Johannes Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' goes on rare overseas trip to Japan

One of the world's most famous paintings has arrived in Japan for a rare overseas display.

Johannes Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring is on show at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka for five weeks.

The masterpiece has been loaned by the Mauritshuis in the Netherlands while its usual home undergoes renovation.

It is the painting's first international trip in more than a decade.

The work rarely travels abroad because of its importance to the museum and the Netherlands, according to Mauritshuis general director Martine Gosselink.

"Well we don't loan 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring' because she is our most important and precious painting," explains Gosselink. "Not only to the Mauritshuis, but also to the Netherlands. But due to construction work and renovation work, the museum will be closed for one-and-a-half months. And that's the reason, and the only reason, why she can travel."

Several countries were interested in hosting the painting, but Japan was ultimately selected.

"There were many parties involved, and also many countries wishing her to have in their country. Like Korea, China, Singapore. But we chose Japan, for Japan has a huge amount of fans. And they really love Vermeer, they love 'The Girl with a Pearl Earring'. And the amount of visitors coming from Japan every year to the Mauritshuis is so large. So we thought, if one country deserves the girl, it should be Japan."

The exhibition also features another Vermeer work, Diana and her Nymphs.

The exhibition opens to the public on today and runs until 27 September.