“Girl with a Pearl Earring” to be scanned, analyzed in public view

The Mauritshuis museum in The Hague is launching a new study into painting 'Girl with a pearl Earring' by Johannes Vermeer. This research, involving microscopes, X-ray equipment and a special scanner, will happen in a glass workshop in the museum itself. And visitors are welcome to come and watch, the museum announced.

The research will be done by a team of international experts over a course of two weeks, starting on February 26th. Using state-of-the-art techniques, they will try to learn more about the method and materials Vermeer used for this famous work.

Vermeer painted 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' and 1665. The Mauritshuis purchased the painting in 1902. This work is by far the most popular of Vermeer's art among the public. In 2006, the Dutch public chose named it as the most beautiful painting in the Netherlands.