Rembrandt and Vermeer focus of latest Louvre Abu Dhabi exhibition

Two of Johannes Vermeer’s most celebrated paintings will hang next to each other for the first time in 300 years as part of a new exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi that celebrates the Dutch masters. Rembrandt, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age Masterpieces from the Leiden Collection and the Musee du Louvre features 95 artworks, including 22 paintings and drawings by Rembrandt. Vemeer's Young Woman Seated at a Virginal and The Lacemaker , which are painted on canvas cut from the same bolt of cloth, will be among the star attractions. “This is the very first time a blockbuster exhibition of the Dutch masters has come to the UAE and it is extremely special that two Vermeer paintings from the same piece of canvas have been hung next to each other for the first time in 300 years," said Manuel Rabate, director of Louvre Abu Dhabi. The exhibition, which opens on February 14, seeks to explore Rembrandt’s relationship with his peers, including Vermeer, Jan Lievens, Frans van Mieris and Frans Hals. During the 17th and early 18th century, the Netherlands became a hub of trade, scientific discovery and creativity – otherwise referred to as the Golden Age. The show will assess the artistic traditions that flourished in this Golden Age and trace the roots of the ‘fijnschilders’ – or fine painters – school of painting that emerged during this time. The fijnschilders are recognised for their meticulous renderings of daily life. The works on display by Rembrandt are taken from across his career, including his time in Leiden and Amsterdam, and include Self-Portrait with Shaded Eyes and Minerva in Her Study . They will be displayed alongside works by other artists to illustrate the way the group influenced each other. Blaise Ducos, chief curator of Dutch and Flemish paintings at the Musée du Louvre, said the exhibition tells an "extraordinary story" of the Golden Age. Rembrandt, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age Masterpieces from the Leiden Collection and the Musee du Louvre runs from Feb 14-May 18 at Louvre Abu Dhabi. For more information, visit www.louvreabudhabi.ae _________________ Read more: Louvre Abu Dhabi: the long-awaited first look inside Full programme of speakers for Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2019: Ian Rankin, Jane Hawking, Tony De Saulles and more Review: Zadie Smith's latest collection of essays touch on Facebook, Justin Bieber and Brexit _________________

Rembrandt and Vermeer focus of latest Louvre Abu Dhabi exhibition

Rembrandt, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age Masterpieces from the Leiden Collection and the Musee du Louvre opens next month