Sky Arte to Air Documentary on Landmark Vermeer Exhibition at Rijksmuseum
Sky Arte will broadcast the documentary film 'Vermeer – The Greatest Exhibition' on Saturday, May 24, in its first television airing. The film, directed by Australian filmmaker David Bickerstaff, documents the historic 2023 retrospective at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, which brought together 28 of the 35 known masterpieces by the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. The exhibition was notable for its unprecedented assembly of works, including 'Girl with a Pearl Earring,' 'The Geographer,' 'The Milkmaid,' and the recently restored 'Woman Reading a Letter.' Phil Grabsky, producer and co-writer of the documentary, commented on the rapid sell-out of tickets and the importance of preserving such events for posterity. The film also features insights from curators and Vermeer experts who analyzed the artist's creative process. Bickerstaff had previously directed similar projects on Vincent van Gogh and Camille Pissarro. The documentary offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the exhibition, which was considered a once-in-a-lifetime event. Sky Arte's content is curated by Artribune.
Key facts
- Documentary 'Vermeer – The Greatest Exhibition' airs on Sky Arte on May 24.
- Film directed by David Bickerstaff, an Australian filmmaker.
- Exhibition held in 2023 at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
- 28 of 35 known Vermeer paintings were assembled.
- Notable works include 'Girl with a Pearl Earring,' 'The Geographer,' 'The Milkmaid,' and 'Woman Reading a Letter.'
- Phil Grabsky is producer and co-writer of the documentary.
- Tickets sold out within hours, according to Grabsky.
- Bickerstaff previously made films on Van Gogh and Pissarro.
Entities
Artists
- Johannes Vermeer
- David Bickerstaff
- Phil Grabsky
- Vincent van Gogh
- Camille Pissarro
Institutions
- Sky Arte
- Rijksmuseum
- Artribune
Locations
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands