Dominance. Get us to the head with d w business beyond ah, for the ah, a deceptively simple image. Yon premiers girl reading a letter at an open window from 1657. Standing just beyond the curtain. She seems peaceful at one with herself and the moment. The letter hints at the presence of the world outside and into this calm, intimate moment, a figure intrudes a naked cupid. The god of love and desire was detected in an x ray analysis decades ago, but was largely ignored by the art world. Now hes made a dramatic re entrance, a new restoration made clear that the cupid had been painted over by another artist after vermeer of death. The revelation made headlines around the world. The German Museum that owns the painting, the old masters, picture gallery or gemelli galaxy and dresden decided to uncover the figure so long concealed official. This really is unique. Melissa basically means me writing the near scholarship. Ah, a sensational outcome. After years of research. For centuries, people have been fascinated by the enigmatic paintings of yon vermeer. His works have long defied definitive interpretation. And that has made the artist the subject of highly contentious debates among the worlds art scholars in dresden, a well funded team of internationally renowned premier experts got to work using cutting edge technology. They got remarkable results. What started out as the restoration of a single painting, as led to the radical transformation of an iconic image. It was the Art Historical equivalent of open heart surgery. The removal of a layer of paint revealed a cupid and provided plenty of food for thought. As an a truly you have this iconic painting that is imprinted itself in our collective consciousness. Now its no longer there. Its been replaced by another painting is traditional because as far as wins, offenses for removing the paint is tantamount to a raising history by marlow victor. And to put that on, if we have the names here of individuals who may have painted over the mayor, tom, ah, are you one of those who are attracted by the unknown and unrecognized . Are you curious about mystery in reality . About shadow and light . The 2 extremes of both art and life. At the museum in the hague, a superb and utterly unique painting stops all visitors in their tracks. That makes a lasting impression on artists and connoisseurs alike. Its the view of the town of belt by Young Vaughan the mere these are the words of the man who rediscovered vermeer in 18. 65. In the nearly 2 centuries after the painters death, his work had fallen into obscurity. We dont know a lot about from here he is known as the sphinx of dells because we know so little about his life. He lived in delft, which is a town in the netherlands and he had lots of children more than 10 children. So how he got time to paint, i dont know known as yawn or yo harness premier is the most famous son of delta, the city where he spent his entire life. He was born here in 1632 and ara later called the dutch golden age. A time of unprecedented prosperity for the netherlands when the arts and sciences flourished along with International Trade in total john vermeer, his legacy amounts to just 37. 00 paintings. But each of them is a masterpiece and guaranteed ticket seller for any exhibition. All of them were produced in delphi. Vermeer lived on volta scoffed for many years, right around the corner from the st. Lucas artists guild, of which he was a member. He moved homes just once and thus lived his whole life within a radius of 100 meters. To day that tiny patch of dell draws premier fans from around the world. Vermeer only ever painted to exterior views. The rest of his works depict interiors. The outside world is present only in the light that pours in through lead glass windows. Premiers compositions are a camera obscura, in the truest sense, darkened chambers with light entering from one solitary point. Space is characterized by a feeling of intimacy and concealment. They arouse in the viewer and urge to unravel a mystery. His paintings are a 3 dimensional experience. Ah, vermeer conjured up fleeting moments with a power that enthralls no adherent of strict realism, he frequently changed the scale in form of objects. Many of his pictorial elements were inspired by the well to do homes of the burgeoning middle class ah, the perspective geometry of the floor tops items from every day life, an artist with an imagination that opened up new horizons. And premiers very particular pallet of colors which hailed in part from more exotic lines. And this is the blue pigment, called indigo, that would have come from faraway either in asia or from the west indies. This is a yellow pigment called weld, that is made from a plant that probably grew in the netherlands. And when these 2 colors were mixed together, it would have made a transparent green ah, a new style of painting. Incorporating the technological marbles of the time. Young premiers friendship with a lens grinder from dell, introduced him to optical innovations like the camera obscura. In premiers imagination, the camera obscura was like the i, its lens, the pupil. Its screen the retina, a pete box that cast images on to the wall. This was also the dawn of a new age and art one that build a vacuum. A 100 years after the reformation, destructive iconoclasm. In 1566 protestant iconoclast christians, who saw depictions of religious figures as blasphemous, destroyed paintings and churches across dealt oh, they also rebelled against the curtains that had traditionally been draped across the churches. Holiest and most revered paintings to protect them from the masses. Mm. The painted curtain would eventually become a motif in its own right. Deployed once again by various dutch painters in the mid 17th century. As a inbound via the 8 is rembrandt, was the 1st to paint the frame complete with kersin, right into the pitch up in the spilled he 9 of and then this is east alpha there, vanderfull island. So the exterior curtain now becomes a motif sign him in motif an illusionary trick called tom loi. Literally meaning deception of the i. I know, and that is i, you could also see it is us, the view is being deceived. Terry strata, violet because we see the image of a curtain which invites us to try and see behind it. Van un sites basin seen swan keith. But that desire to see more about whats hidden behind the curtain is not just about some of the world view or a view from a window, vales or the im fain, spouse, flakes of wanton. So and then meet metaphorically. Its about wanting to see more less through the medium of art in beers on, on funder malakai pan. It can be interpreted as the genesis of an appreciation big hospital. Im ok, they constantly power. I 15 at the peak of the golden age, dutch artists were producing 70000. 00 paintings a year. A prolific rate, unprecedented in the history of art does position so its very apt for the 17th century, more a time when concepts of time and space were being revolutionized at wandering idle up to that point it. If the world was considered to be in gods, hands and pre determined, mia, its for its in the 17th century, people began to see themselves as self determining style. Can cur, john ramirez paintings are and remain superbly devised invitations to explore new worlds for mrs. This toller and isnt that what i love about this painting is that its such a small room, but the longer you look at it, the more expensive the room becomes. So its opens up to the hall. My references. This early work from 1657 already incorporates premiers core elements. The use of light, the transient moment. The suggestion of a narrative ah, pushed an ox, yo fancy and imagination, monica suddenly, youre in a different world. And just as the woman re debbie is in another world, ah, one of various worlds brought to life by johan asked premier. Busy interiors where the 4th wall is cast aside. As premier gives us moments of intimacy for the ages. Lou and yet for a time vermeer work was forgotten until a re discovery in dresden augustus the 3rd king of poland, an elector of saxony, military commander, and one of the greatest art patrons of his time. A man with visionary plans, they included the creation of an art gallery, so grand, all of europe would hear of it. The clinic is stopped by to some the king had a series of paintings ready for the connection. On initially, they were housed in what were still in the 17th century by the royal stables about us in zips in yelled at us. Im saying this is whether the mail to gallery was established. Would you convey to get an, an anguished at that of the royal gallery essentially became a proton museum, a temple of art open to all a presentation of his majestys good taste or bonn, goof, the monarch as arbiter, deciding which works well worthy of display. August, august is the 3rd was a real connoisseur and he took an active interest in painting and was directly involved in the acquisitions. He made the tie leash while though the major hubs of the fine art trade were some distance away. The 17th century saw a veritable frenzy of art collecting both in italy and france, and especially in paris. On the flourishing french market. The principal buyers were cardinals, royalty the aristocracy, the clergy and monasteries purchasing by a correspondence with their agents on the spot. Collectors hosted the 1st public exhibitions of contemporary art by the 18th century auctions were already playing a major role in paris. Art dealers 1st began to emerge. Old documents paint a vivid picture of how augustus was able to build up his unique collection. Carrying on pets ish. The mysteries from saxony dispatched an alert to twistin about the impending sale of an important connection with a coughed, dutch, and flemish artists were producing paintings of the highest quality. But augustus, as agents and paris, were after something else, the prized collection of victor amadeus, the burst of savoy, the prince of county, all eyes is obscene of. And when the prince of karen yano died in france in 1741. The chief concern for augustus was his collection of italian paintings, which is why he sent his agent to paris again, not bobbys. The market was a highly competitive one with the kings of france and portugal, among the bidders. Augustus employed a range of art savvy experts and the flemish conservatory. In total, he managed to acquire 30 paintings from the colony, all collection spending a fortune in the process. When julia tuba fished it we can see here which paintings from the famous prince of carrion yano collection went from paris to saxony or on the handle i hoped. And the most prominent among them was a gift beat isis in my 80. Denise powder. Sure to mushy. As meaning grounded on top of the trade. So a present to shakes. Ah dont renew good. Deb roku will take signals. Host of law as wandered in. Among the many paintings received by your excellency. Any one is i, rembrandt. Get his eyes from the hemp hunt. Looks his aunt, all engine fi, t visa, he jennifer nick. Thus as depicting a young girl reading across from a window on his fence thus east. Ah, ah, this man wilmington is being mistaken for rembrandt. It is due solely to the painted curtain. The curtain was the key elements of the masterpiece. Busy an invitation to take a closer look at the scene. This means that by adding a painted curtain, i really, rembrandt was declaring this painting of his ease as to be a masterpiece. I my fish took bexla here. This isnt good. Thank and. And it was a gift to a friend, would that so it had to be valuable while anderson and he was the most celebrated dutch painter, rembrandt. Linus off, and that for me is the reason why this painting, which was obviously very valuable, ended up going to to wastin as a rembrandt called us of a to full. Im on. Ah, so after being given the list of paintings, the king said, i want that one, that one and that one. Then he told is cheap emissary in paris to verify an essential question. Authenticity. Transportation was another issue with the wet autumn weather create problems. What about the temperature . And could the paintings be rolled up and a cylinder . Eventually the paintings from the colony on collection arrived in dresden. There they were soon put on display in the kings new museum. Ah, one picture was kept from public view. The one given to the king as a present. The girl reading a letter was placed in the kings chambers. The painting was now part of an exclusive and illustrious group, one that included the very best of dutch painting. A privileged position shrouded in mystery. It was hidden away in the private rooms of the ruler of saxony and poland, measuring 83. 00 by 64. 00 and a half centimeters. This every day, seen by a dutch master graced the kings cabinet room, discover net is being an integral part of the palaces ceremonial apartments. Access to the cabinet was obviously restricted to getting a room where the king could retreat, crooning alone or with guests to contemplate his paintings her at pleasure, uncooked on the paintings. There were almost exclusively dutch and flemish works depicting generic seals in the after its a constructed intimacy. Intimidated, ah. Busy on the ticket is a spirit mom entering this picture is not straightforward for you 1st have to go past the curtain, then across the rug pick. And sub me there you are. Mando now your parts of event. So she ends, although events is almost incorrect as nothing is actually happening. There is no story handle. Busy ah, all you see, is this woman completely absorbed in what shes doing . Oh, what might she be reading . Her concentrated face is reflected in the window. Oh, how does this woman feel imprisoned or free like the world beyond her window questions that retain their fascination to this day . By 1765, the painting had left the kings private rooms and could now be seen in dresden, st. Cml de gallery. Busy busy t 3 snug unaided. Got any, is thee camille, the gal that he and i easton is on par with the leuva in terms of the quality of the paintings at this time. This was also true in the 18th century life from rural. But brown says, your own collection in the louvre was completely inaccessible to the public. At this time, a thinking mitten, a hit when placed in his command. The gallery opened in 1740 sacks. Can any one whitish . Any artist, student with all bank capital . And we know this from the visitor reco dixon. It could go inside india, connecticut, at a higher, ah, a feast of gold and color accessible to wall, regardless of their social class or origins. Ah, ah tot. So had a split least and suddenly have this well renowned collection victory that so all the artists who used to make the journey to montana and rome now had to go to the isda listener. Knock, listen, ah, augustus. The thirds passion for art extended far beyond the borders of saxony. The birth of this now legendary collection would always be associated with the monarch. Dresden is still referred to as the florence of the north. A home for art, a celebration of beauty in the form of a public collection, for every one to see as its in its infancy in 1775. The camille gallery is you daniel catalog commander, go to the, the commander gallery had a conveniently small folks can easily accessible for visitors. Soft that, that was characteristic. Assemble on and suddenly each of the va, me a pups off and stood still listed as rembrandt, girl reading out a window ready to commit to go to v a. Fixation. And but of course, its of him here from van. Now, on to that much, the official entry of this painting into the command gallery to go to the and how it was inducted into the history of aunt quince squished ah, rediscovering vermeer for the art world. This was etienne yoseph tail feel ta ways quest. He would spend almost 10 years of his Life Tracking down the spinks of dealt as he called the artist talk re travelled frequently between the hague and brussels. And later to berlin found shy and vienna. He examined various collections, recommending this superlative dutch mens works to his wealthy friends and newcomers to the art market. A painter who was still relatively unknown due to the small number of his works. Other people had helped to identify premiers paintings. But credit for truly resurrecting the painters legacy goes to ta bay. Ah, guided by comments written by a Berlin Museum director toys journey eventually took him to dresden there in the royal gallery of augustus. The 3rd. Torbay was able to identify 2 works by yon vermeer. A triumph ah among all the old masters on the walls with these 2, he recognised something ineffable. Hed seen it and all the other premier paintings and brussels, berlin and vienna. They had been painted by the hand of vermeer. Ah, for me, ellis, if he listens unbidden, often a mere leaves, a great deal in his paintings, open an unresolved pop. He works with nuances bundles and in general, with subtle modification, thus, with what we call the atmospheric in these. And in doing so, he entices us into this atmosphere ish. It seemed to him build on, and i, i enjoy it in a way. He introduces ambiguity and coaxes our imagination so that we think that something unresolved, that content we want to take a better look like its a find out more astonished question on you start bringing this picture to life in your mind and my cough to the spirit, to believe them on when it comes to the relationship between a work of often its observer kong, what could be better . Whats his dea, a muggy, not shown. Ah, abby vandeveer has spent years examining what is indisputably one of the most famous paintings in the history of art. Premiers girl with the pearl airing of painting thats been celebrated on the big screen, interpreted and reinterpreted over the centuries by a host of observers from the church to royalty, art historians and Museum Directors to day scientific experts deploy state of the art analysis. Really, we wanted to see with these new technologies and with an group of International Researchers with lots of different equipment and lots of different expertise, bringing them altogether and find out how much we could find out about the painting as a whole. And from that, some amazing discoveries came up that we hadnt even expected from the beginning. Modern technology, shifting the narrative, when it comes to old masterpieces. The new technological options are tantalizing. With their promise to let us take a peek over the artists shoulder during the process of creation. Ah we took the painting offer for usual spot here on the wall and brought her to the golden room of the modus house and especially built easel inside a glass enclosure. And within that enclosure, over a 2 week period, scientists and their equipment. Were used to examine the painting to day scientific analyses routinely use a wide range of imaging devices such as x rays and infrared reflex ta graphy. Microscopic examinations and even invasive microscopic procedures take place and sterile laboratories. And sometimes in full view of the public, it was important for us to keep the painting visible to the public because this is a very important painting that the public love very much. After all, who doesnt love the painting dubbed the mona lisa of the north. The girl with the blue turban and that irresistible glint in her eye, and of course the earring, a mere whisper of white premiers masterpiece, has p