Mauritshuis

The Mauritshuis is a 1633 to 1644 in The Hague, Netherlands, built mansions and the museum opened in 1822, which houses the Royal Picture Gallery. The collection of Flemish and Dutch masterpieces from the 17th century is unique in the world. One of the most famous paintings on display there is The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Jan Vermeer.

Building

Maurice of Nassau had the building built from 1633 right next to the Binnenhof as a residence. It was completed on his return as governor of the Dutch colony in Brazil ( 1636-1644 ). The palace was designed by the most renowned Dutch architect of the time, by Jacob van Campen and Pieter Post his assistant. It is one of the most important examples of the Dutch -classical style with influences of the Italian Renaissance and was declared a Rijksmonument.

The original interiors Johann Moritz 1704 were destroyed in a fire. In 1820, the Dutch State purchased the Mauritshuis as the headquarters for the Royal Picture Gallery. 1822 the museum was opened.

History of the collection

The oldest part of the collection goes back to the collection of the governor Prince William V ( 1748-1806 ). In 1816 gave his son, William I ( 1772-1843 ), the collection of the Dutch government. The collection has grown considerably in the last 200 years. 1822 still consisted of 200 paintings, now it includes 800 paintings. Determined first-class works of Dutch and Flemish paintings were acquired. Invaluable were also private donations. Among the most important patrons were:

  • Andries Arnoldus of Tombe (1818-1902)
  • Abraham Bredius (1855-1946)
  • Sir Henri Deterding (1866-1939)
  • Louise Thurkow -van Huffel (1900-1987)
  • Baron Willem van Dedem (* 1929)

Collection

The collection consists of approximately 800 paintings, 50 miniatures, 20 sculptures, drawings and prints. The works provide an excellent overview of the Dutch and Flemish paintings from the 15th to the 18th century. Among them are masterpieces of the Golden Age. So the Mauritshuis has, for example with 10 images of Rembrandt one of the largest and most important collections in the world.

  • Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder: flower vase in a window niche ( 1618)
  • Jan Brueghel the Elder and Peter Paul Rubens: Paradise representation with the Fall ( 1615)
  • Adriaen Coorte: Still Life with Strawberries (1705 )
  • Frans Hals: Laughing Boy ( 1627 )
  • Hans Holbein the Younger: Portrait of Robert Cheseman ( 1533)
  • Paulus Potter: The Bull ( 1647)
  • Carel Fabritius: The Goldfinch (1654 )
  • Frans van Mieris the Elder: Brothel Scene ( 1658)
  • Rembrandt van Rijn: Susanna ( 1636)
  • Rembrandt van Rijn: The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp (1632 )
  • Rembrandt van Rijn: Self-Portrait ( 1669)
  • Jacob van Ruisdael: View of Harlem with bleaching fields (1670-1675)
  • Jan Steen: " As the old have sung, so the boys are singing " ( 1665)
  • Jan Vermeer: Girl with a Pearl Earring ( 1665)
  • Jan Vermeer: View of Delft (1660 /61)
  • Jan Vermeer Diana and her companions ( 1655/56 )
  • Rogier van der Weyden: The Lamentation of Christ ( 1438 )

New Acquisitions

In the recent past, among others, the following works were acquired:

1999:

  • Rembrandt van Rijn: Portrait of an elderly man ( 1667) - Purchase price of 15 million euros

2005:

  • Peter Paul Rubens: Old Woman and Boy with Candle (1616/1617)
  • Jacob of Ruisdael: View of Bentheim Castle (1652-1654)

2008:

  • Jan van de Cappelle: Seascape with ships (1660 )

Special

All the paintings in the Mauritshuis are well restored and preserved. The old layers of varnish on the paintings that strongly faded after 400 years usually are dark and have been removed by the restorers of the Mauritshuis and replaced by a new, transparent varnish. Therefore, the colors of the images are particularly radiant.

Temporary closure

The Mauritshuis is rebuilt since April 2012 to mid- 2014 and is therefore closed. A selection of about 50 images ( including the Girl with a Pearl Earring ) is at this time on a world tour in Japan and the United States. Some 100 masterpieces are shown at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag in the exhibition " Meesters uit het Mauritshuis ".

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