Where is the painting The Girl with a Pearl Earring? Almost as famous as the Mona Lisa ou Guernica, The Girl with a Pearl Earring is Holland's most famous painting. Over there, it is called “The Mona Lisa of the Netherlands”.
Many of you want to admire the original work but don't know where is the painting The Girl with a Pearl Earring.
In this article you will find out in which country and in which museum this Oil painting on canvas which was produced around 1665.
I will also provide you with practical advice to make your visit a success and discover this work of art in the best possible conditions.
Who painted The Girl with a Pearl Earring?
The painting The Girl with a Pearl Earring was painted by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer (also called Johannes or Jan Van der Meer). Of the 36 paintings recognized as being made by Vermeer, the two best known are The Girl with a Pearl Earring et The milk girl. These two works are now among the most famous works of art in the history of world painting.
Vermeer was born in Delft, Holland in 1632 to a master weaver and art dealer father. His life is little known but we know that he married Catharina Bolnes who pushed him to convert to Catholicism. He had 11 children and died in 1675, at the age of 43.
See more information about Wermeer's life and career at: Google Arts and Culture
On the other hand, The Girl with a Pearl Earring inspired the writer Tracy Chevalier who made a novel out of it, published in 1999. She imagined a platonic relationship between the painter and a young servant who was his model. The novel was then adapted by Peter Webber who made it into a film in 2003.
Where is the Girl with a Pearl Earring painting?
The painting The Girl with a Pearl Earring is in the city of The Hague in the Netherlands in the museum Mauritshuis.
The Mauritshuis (Royal Cabinet of Paintings) is a museum mainly devoted to the art of the 17th century which was the golden age of Dutch painters, the era of Rembrandt and Vermeer.
Where is this painting in the Mauritshuis museum?
This painting is located in Room 15 on the 2nd floor of the Mauritshuis Museum. It is an oil on canvas of 44,5 cm by 39 cm which is exhibited in the room devoted to Vermeer.
This painting represents a young girl who stares at the painter with an oblique gaze. She wears a turban around her head which gave her her original name: La Jeune Fille au turban. The second detail that catches the viewer's attention is the pearl she wears in her left ear.
You can also discover the painting The Girl with a Pearl Earring by taking a virtual tour: virtual.mauritshuis
Just click on “Free Exploration” and at the bottom left in “Room 15” and you will be virtually in the museum facing The Girl with a Pearl Earring who is looking at you!
How to find this painting?
To discover all the facets of this splendid painting, you can:
- Book a ticket for the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague: Online ticketing on the official website of the Museum by reserving a time slot;
- Or book a tour after 15pm when it's less crowded by calling (+31) (0)70 302 3456 or emailing mail@mauritshuis.nl.
Who is The Girl with a Pearl Earring?
We don't really know. Experts believe that the Girl with the Pearl Earring was an imaginary character. Indeed, Vermeer would not have made the portrait of a model or an acquaintance but he would have made a tronie. Tronies are characteristic of 17th century Dutch painting and of Vermeer in particular.
They are depictions of imagined faces whose features are often exaggerated to bring out a particular character, emotion, state of mind, or eccentric character. For this young girl, it is the exotic side that stands out because she wears an exotic dress, an oriental turban and a pearl that seems unreal because of her excessive size. She looks like a young Dutch girl disguised as a Turkish woman.
However, even though the character never existed, Vermeer was able to use a model to paint this portrait as a basis. Some have claimed that the Girl with the Pearl Earring was actually one of Vermeer's daughters who was named Marie and who, at the time, was a teenager.
The Girl with the Pearl Earring story
According to the novel Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier and its 2003 film adaptation, the story of the Girl with a Pearl Earring is as follows:
In 1664, Griet who is a charming young lady from a poor family in the city of Delft in the Netherlands is hired as a servant to work in the house of the painter Vermeer. She must take care of the upkeep of the painter's house and children.
Trying to get away from the jealousies and tensions between the wife, the mother-in-law and the governess, Griet who does the housework in the painter's studio will approach him gently. Vermeer makes her discover over the days the art of painting and take it as a model. He appreciates more and more the moments shared with his servant and their complicity begins to cause scandal in the house and in the city.
When Vermeer portrays him, he demands that Griet wear the pearls that belong to his own wife. Griet is forced to accept but when the painting is finished Vermeer's wife is in a rage. However, the master will not dare to support the servant in front of his jealous wife, which will lead to the end of the relationship between Vermeer and Griet.
If you are going to visit the Netherlands, try to spend a few days to visit Amsterdam !