• list of all vermeer works....locations now and ,if on loan to a museum or gallery,
    who actually donated/ or loaned the painting


  • Hello again MaggieG

    I'm pleased to say I've managed to find more information than I expected about how the European galleries with Vermeer paintings acquired them. There are no loans from private sources, though one of the paintings in the Rijksmuseum has been on loan from the City of Amsterdam for more than a century. Some pictures were donated or bequeathed.
    I hope the details below will be helpful to you.

    Best Wishes - Leli


    AMSTERDAM
    =========

    THE MILKMAID
    The Rijksmuseum

    "part of the Six collection, Amsterdam [...] acquired by the museum in 1907-8 from this source." http://gallery.euroweb.hu/html/v/vermeer/02b/09milkm.html

    THE LITTLE STREET
    The Rijksmuseum

    "presented to the Rijksmuseum by Henri Deterding" in 1921
    http://rijksmuseum.nl/asp/framuk.asp?name=collectie1

    THE LOVE LETTER
    Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

    Sold by the Lennep/Vollenhoven family.
    "In the museum since 1893."
    http://gallery.euroweb.hu/html/v/vermeer/03d/31lovel.html

    WOMAN IN BLUE READING A LETTER
    The Rijksmuseum

    "Bequeathed with the collection van der Hoop to the city of Amsterdam in 1854. On loan to the Rijksmuseum since 1885." http://gallery.euroweb.hu/html/v/vermeer/03a/18woman.html

    The Rijksmuseum
    http://rijksmuseum.nl


    BERLIN
    ======

    THE GLASS OF WINE
    Gem ldegalerie

    also known as "A Lady Drinking and a Gentleman"
    "acquired by the museum in 1901"
    http://gallery.euroweb.hu/html/v/vermeer/02c/11drink.html

    WOMAN WITH A PEARL NECKLACE
    Gem ldegalerie

    From the Suermondt Collection in 1874
    http://gallery.euroweb.hu/html/v/vermeer/03a/19woman.html

    Gem ldegalerie - Picture Gallery - History
    http://www.smb.spk-berlin.de/gg/e/g.html


    BRUNSWICK
    =========

    THE GIRL WITH A GLASS OF WINE
    Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, Brunswick (Braunschweig)

    This was in the collection of the gallery's founder, Welfenherzog [Duke] Anton Ulrich von Braunschweig-L neburg (1633-1714). http://www.museum-braunschweig.de/Pages/Deutsch/Kurzinfo.html


    DRESDEN
    =======

    THE PROCURESS
    Gem ldegalerie Alte Meister

    "Acquired for the collection of the Elector of Saxony in 1741 "
    http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/v/vermeer/01-early/04procu.html

    A GIRL READING A LETTER BY AN OPEN WINDOW
    Gem ldegalerie Alte Meister

    "Acquired in 1724 by August III, Elector of Saxony"
    http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/v/vermeer/02a/06gread.html

    Most of the Old Masters collection was assembled in the 18th century by August the Strong and his son August III. http://www.skd-dresden.de/de/museen/alte_meister/sammlung.html



    DUBLIN
    ======

    LADY WRITING A LETTER WITH HER MAID
    National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin

    Given to the gallery by Sir Alfred Beit.

    "The collection of Dutch 17th century masters was built up in the last century and has been crowned by the Beit Gift of works by Vermeer, Metsu, Ruisdael and Hobbema." http://www.nationalgallery.ie/html/paintings.html


    EDINBURGH
    =========

    CHRIST IN THE HOUSE OF MARY AND MARTHA
    National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh

    "Bequeathed by the two sons of [W.A.]Coats in 1927"
    http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/v/vermeer/01-early/01christ.html

    National Gallery of Scotland
    http://www.nationalgalleries.org/


    FRANKFURT
    =========

    THE GEOGRAPHER
    St delsches Kunstinstitut

    Painting acquired by the museum in 1885 from Joseph B sch of Vienna.
    http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/v/vermeer/03d/29geogr.html

    St delsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt
    http://www.staedelmuseum.de/index.php?id=350


    THE HAGUE
    =========

    THE GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING
    Mauritshuis, The Hague

    " A. A. des Tombe of The Hague [...] bequeathed the picture in 1903 to the Mauritshuis." http://gallery.euroweb.hu/html/v/vermeer/03b/22pearl.html

    VIEW OF DELFT
    The Mauritshuis, The Hague

    "Purchased by the state of the Netherlands" in the early 19th century.
    http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/v/vermeer/02c/13view.html

    DIANA AND HER COMPANIONS
    Mauritshuis, The Hague

    "bought by the state of the Netherlands for the Mauritshuis" in 1876
    http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/v/vermeer/01-early/03diana.html


    The Mauritshuis
    http://www.mauritshuis.nl/english/index_algemeen_explorer.html


    LONDON
    ======

    THE MUSIC LESSON
    The Royal Collection

    Part of the Royal Collection built up over the years by the British monarchy.

    Royal Collection
    http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page601.asp

    A LADY SEATED AT A VIRGINAL
    The National Gallery, London

    Part of the Salting Bequest to the National Gallery, 1910.

    More on George Salting, art collector
    http://www.morris.clara.net/MoreSalting.htm

    A LADY STANDING AT A VIRGINAL
    National Gallery, London

    The National Gallery bought this in 1892.

    National Gallery - London
    http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/default.htm

    THE GUITAR PLAYER
    Kenwood, Iveagh Bequest

    This came from the collection of Edward Cecil Guinness, Earl of Iveagh. It is now part of the Iveagh Bequest exhibited at Kenwood House. http://www.irishartsreview.com/html/vol20_no4/reviews20_04/review20_04text.htm



    PARIS
    =====

    THE ASTRONOMER
    The Louvre, Paris

    This was part of the Rothschild collection before it was acquired by the Louvre in 1983, as "dation". This means it was given as payment in kind, probably to offset taxes due to the French government. http://www.puc-rio.br/louvre/anglais/magazine/vermeer2.htm

    THE LACEMAKER
    The Louvre, Paris

    This was acquired by the Louvre in 1870.

    The Louvre
    http://www.louvre.fr/


    VIENNA
    ======

    THE ART OF PAINTING
    Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

    "the picture passed through the collections of Gottfried van Swieten and Count Czernin [1872-1932] to find its place in the Picture Gallery of the Kunsthistorisches Museum." http://www.khm.at/homeE3.html

    "In the possession of Adolf Hitler after 1938, and hung at his residence in Berchtesgaden. Acquired by the museum in 1946." http://gallery.euroweb.hu/html/v/vermeer/03c/25artpa.html



    Information on provenance of Vermeer's paintings
    http://gallery.euroweb.hu/html/v/vermeer/index.html


  • Thank-you for your message, MaggieG.

    I am sorry you were disappointed, and I will try to help you with this.

    As for the error pages, yes they are indeed exasperating, but for me they only happen when I click on the museum names. Will it help you to click on the names of the paintings? This leads to information about the museum as well as the painting.
    You say, "if on loan to a museum or gallery, who actually donated/ or loaned the painting". Do you mean you want to know about anyone who has donated a Vermeer to a gallery?
    Or do you want to know if any of the Vermeers in art galleries are there on loan? In fact, they all appear to be part of the permanent collections.
    In the case of the paintings in American museums, I find they all say either "gift of", "bequest of", or are part of the Frick, Widener or Mellon collections. Items in the Frick collection were bequeathed by Henry Clay Frick, and those in the Widener Collection were donated to the National Gallery of Art in Washington by Joseph Widener in 1942. Andrew Mellon, the art collector, gave the items in the Mellon collection. I hope this list will be helpful:

    ===================
    Vermeers in the USA
    ===================

    OFFICER AND LAUGHING GIRL
    The Frick Collection

    MISTRESS AND MAID
    The Frick Collection

    GIRL INTERRUPTED IN HER MUSIC
    The Frick Collection


    The Frick Collection
    http://www.frick.org/

    ===================


    STUDY OF A YOUNG WOMAN
    Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman,
    in memory of Theodore Rousseau Jr

    ALLEGORY OF FAITH
    Bequest of Micheael Friedsam

    YOUNG WOMAN WITH A WATER PITCHER
    Marquand Collection, Gift of Henry G. Marquand

    WOMAN WITH A LUTE
    Bequest of Collis P. Huntington

    A MAID ASLEEP
    Bequest of Benjamin Altman


    Metropolitan Museum - New York
    http://www.metmuseum.org/

    ===================


    GIRL WITH A FLUTE
    Widener Collection

    WOMAN HOLDING A BALANCE
    Widener Collection

    A LADY WRITING
    Gift of Harry Waldron Havemeyer and Horace Havemeyer, Jr.
    in memory of their father, Horace Havemeyer

    GIRL WITH A RED HAT
    Andrew W. Mellon Collection


    National Gallery of Art - Washington
    http://www.nga.gov/collection/collect.htm

    ===================


    You will realise that the situation in Europe is different. There is not such a strong tradition of wealthy philanthropists collecting art and then bequeathing or donating it to a gallery. I believe many of the Vermeers in Europe belong to the country where they are exhibited, often after having previously been owned by a royal or aristocratic family whose art collection became the property of the nation. Unfortunately, exact details may be difficult to establish in an internet search.
    If you can give me any more explanation of your needs, this might be helpful.

    In any case, I will get back to you after I have had time to see what additional information is available.
    Leli


  • much better after follow-up, but still has holes.....thanks


  • disappointing........i really want the people who donated or loaned........none are designated in europe and the u.s. only has several.......many on list lead to an error page which is exasperating. i need this data and this is really an inadequate attempt....i learned nothing


  • Hello MaggieG

    I found a really helpful website with full details of all Vermeer's paintings (34 or 35 depending on which expert you're talking to) and their long-term homes. The only mystery is the whereabouts of "The Concert" which was stolen from the Isabella Gardner Museum in Boston in 1990.
    It looks as if you need to be on the East Coast of the USA, or in and around the Netherlands for the best chance to see several Vermeers.

    These are the webpages with the lists you want:

    Paintings in Europe
    http://essentialvermeer.20m.com/maps/mapeurope.htm

    Paintings in the US
    http://essentialvermeer.20m.com/maps/mapnewengland.htm

    Exhibitions in 2004 when some works will be "away from home".
    http://essentialvermeer.20m.com/vermeer_events.htm


    The paintings are also listed by date:

    Paintings 1653-1661
    http://essentialvermeer.20m.com/vermeer_painting_part_one.htm

    Paintings 1662-1667
    http://essentialvermeer.20m.com/vermeer_painting_part_two.htm

    Paintings 1668-1675
    http://essentialvermeer.20m.com/vermeer_painting_part_three.htm

    "Missing" paintings - explaining how scholars arrived at a list of 34 or 35 Vermeers http://essentialvermeer.20m.com/how_many_vermeers.htm

    "Essential Vermeer" home page with links to further information
    http://essentialvermeer.20m.com/index.html


    As you'll see, all Vermeer's work is in museums or galleries, except the "Music Lesson" which is part of the UK Royal Collection and currently on show in one of the Queen's palaces, and the stolen "The Concert".

    I hope I interpreted the part of your question about donors and loans correctly. I took it to mean that you wanted to be sure you knew who the long-term owner was, which this answer will tell you. If you were hoping for something else, please let me know by asking for clarification, though I fear it would be a very challenging task to find out where each European museum acquired its Vermeer(s). Donors to the New York and Washington galleries are named when you click on the links in the listings.
    Thanks for the question! I thoroughly enjoyed browsing through pages about Vermeer, and hope this information will be helpful for you. Feel free to ask if you need anything clarified.
    Best wishes - Leli


    Search began with:

    Vermeer catalogue raisonne

    Then I followed links to the "Essential Vermeer" site.