On the spot where both men are buried, their worlds come together in a unique exhibition: ‘’It could have been: dialogues between Antoni van Leeuwenhoek and Johannes Vermeer‘’.
The exhibition playfully brings to life ten encounters at defining moments of these greats of art and science through beautiful drawings by visual artist Elisa Pesapane and texts (in Dutch and English) by author Dirk van Delft.
What did Antoni van Leeuwenhoek discuss at the deathbed of Johannes Vermeer? How did their outing on the ice lead to the View of Delft - encounters that show how these two seventeenth-century masters could have inspired each other.
Besides drawings and dialogues, the exhibition provides historical context about seventeenth-century Delft and focuses on the common ground between these two extraordinary fellow townsmen.
Both explored and created new worlds and used optics in their work: Van Leeuwenhoek as a microscopic researcher, Vermeer as a painter. Johannes played with light, shadow and colour, making discoveries that give his paintings a unique look. Antoni was an explorer in the micro-world.
The exhibition is part of the special ‘art meets science’ project by Dirk van Delft and Elisa Pesapane, in which art and science enter into dialogue.
The book of the same name ‘t Had gekund is available in the Vermeer Centrum Delft shop.
Combitickets
Until Pentecost this year (i.e. until Saturday 7 June), it is possible to buy a combination ticket for the Vermeer Centre Delft and the Old and New Church Delft. These tickets are only of interest to adults and cost €15.00 per person. For children and young people, it is wiser to buy separate tickets, as children up to the age of 12 can visit the Vermeer Centre Delft for free. Those wishing to buy a combination ticket can do so via the Oude en Nieuwe Kerk Delft website (www.oudeennieuwekerkdelft.nl). At the Vermeer Centrum Delft, these combination tickets can only be bought at the counter for €15.00.
Practical information
The exhibition ‘It could have been’ can be seen in the Oude Kerk in Delft, from 7 March to 7 June, Monday to Saturday between 10.00 - 17.00.