The Man-of-War Brielle on the Maas near Rotterdam, a 1689 oil on canvas by Ludolf Bakhuysen is one of a series of paintings reflecting the rise of the Netherlands as a maritime power in the 17th century. (Rijksmuseum/Vancouver Art Gallery)

The Vancouver Art Gallery has unveiled its summer blockbuster show — an exhibit of Dutch masters that includes works by Vermeer and Rembrandt.

The exhibit pulls together a selection of 17th century works from Amsterdam's famous Rijksmuseum, which is partly closed for renovation.

Some of the works have never travelled before, including some miniature furniture and drawings by artists such as Jacob Marrel and Leendert van der Cooghen.

There's only one Johannes Vermeer on loan —The Love Letter, a work in which a maid looks over her shoulder at her mistress as she reads a letter.

Johannes Vermeer's The Love Letter , a 1669-70 oil on canvas is the only Vermeer on loan. (Rijksmuseum/Vancouver Art Gallery)

"It's the first time there has been a Vermeer in Canada since 1954," Vancouver Art Gallery senior curator Ian Thom told CBC News. "They don't tour often — they're just so rare."

Just over 30 works by the great master, known for his perfect rendition of light and colour, have survived and museums that own them are often reluctant to have them tour.

There are also works by Rembrandt Van Rijn, a more prolific painter who maintained a studio of apprentices, as well as Frans Hals, Willem Claesz Heda and Karel du Jardin.

One part of the exhibit is devoted to genre paintings by Jan Steen and Pieter de Hooch, who created scenes of peasants drinking, children playing and other portrayals of everyday life.

Thom said the Vancouver Art Gallery was able to arrange a special exhibit with Rijksmuseum curator Ruud Priem and Lynn Federle Orr of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. The San Francisco museum has loaned three paintings and one is from the VAG, while the rest are from Amsterdam.

The exhibit tries to tell the story of why the 17th century is such a rich period for Dutch art, Thom said.

During that period, the Netherlands had become a great maritime power and a class of wealthy merchants emerged who wanted to collect art.

"Artists emerged as someone able to make a living without the support of a wealthy patron from the nobility or the church," Thom said.

The Protestant churches built at the time avoided buying art, but wealthy commercial families sought out paintings, furniture and other works.

"Still life, paintings of life in the city, urban life in Amsterdam, landscapes; there was a market for these paintings among the bourgeoisie. They wanted things to decorate their homes."

The exhibit Vermeer, Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art opens at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Sunday and runs to Sept. 13.