Mauritshuis

Mauritshuis, Den Haag

The Mauritshuis is one of the most visited museums in Holland. Once you visit, you’ll know why. Mauritshuis, built in The Hague on the shore of the Hofvijver (the Court's Pond) between 1636 and 1641, was the home of the Governor of Dutch Brazil, John Maurice (thus Mauritshuis). It became the Royal Cabinet of Painting (and Rarities) in 1822. By 1875 the building, owned by the Dutch government, became a museum solely for paintings. (The museum, but not the building, was privatized in 1995.) Over the years countless visitors (including Vincent Van Gogh) have stood witness to the ever-increasing collection. (The Mauritshuis closes in April 2012 for two years as the building is renovated and enlarged.)

One of only two landscapes painted by Johannes Vermeer, View of Delft (1660-61)

(Called by Van Gogh the greatest example of brushwork he'd ever seen.)

With over 800 paintings, the Mauritshuis is home to many, many works by the Dutch masters including Rembrandt van Rijn, Pieter Paul Reubens, and Johannes Vermeer. For me the main reason to visit (in fact, one of the main reasons to live and work in the Netherlands) is the opportunity to see The Girl with the Pearl Earring. Little is known about the “Mona Lisa of the North.” Painted during the short life of Vermeer (1632-1675), Het Meisje met de Parel is a “tronie”—a 17^th century Dutch description of a “head” not meant to be a portrait, which would indicate that the girl is a composite, not a sitting model (despite the recent fictionalized account by Tracey Chevalier in her novel by the same name).

Het Meisje met de Parel, Johannes Vermeer

It is believed that Vermeer was apprenticed at an early age to Carel Fabritius, although no one is sure. Fabritius's painting of a captive goldfinch was among my personal favorites in the entire collection.

Het Puttertje (The Goldfinch), Carel Fabritius, 1654

Conveniently lending his name and legacy to everything from toothpaste to art supplies, Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) is the greatest of the great Dutch masters. His work is mesmerizing. Looking at any of Rembrandt’s fifty self-portraits is looking into his soul. The paintings seem to stare back.

When my time in Holland is over, I won’t soon forget my day at the Mauritshuis or the girl who lives there.