The Masterpieces Guide - Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam [antikvár]

PREFACE Visitors come from all over the world to admire the collections in the Rijksmuseum. For most of them the main attraction is Dutch painting of the seven-teenth century, known as the Golden Age. The broad rangé of great works by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Jacob van Ruisdael, Jan Steen and Johannes Vermeer ensure that nowhere else can the special character and high quality of the Dutch school of painting be appreciated so well. The Rijksmuseum was founded in 1798 and opened its doors to the public in 1800. At that time it was located in part of Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, the present palace of H.M. Queen Beatrix. King Louis Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother, moved the Rijksmuseum to Amsterdam in 1808, and added to the collection Rembrandt's 'Night Watch', which was owned by the City of Amsterdam, as well as other works. In 1885 the museum moved into the richly ornamented building designed by Pierre Cuypers, which has been an Amsterdam landmark ever since. Together with the Stedelijk Museum, built in 1896, and the Van Gogh Museum (1973), the Rijksmuseum now forms the heart of the city museums, around the Museumplein. In the next few years the Rijksmuseum is to undergo a far-reaching renovation programme. For the first time in the more than 100 years of its existence the whole of Cuypers' building will be taken in hand. In 2000 the Dutch government provided an initial amount of 100 millión guilders (45 millión euró) as a millennium gift and since then Philips Electronics as Founder and the Sponsor Loterij as chief sponsor have made substantial donations. In gratitude for this, the southern wing of the museum, where Rijksmuseum, The Masterpieces are now on display, has been renamed the Philips Wing. The Rijksmuseum has more than a millión works of art and historical objects. The period covered is 1400 to 1900, which will be extended into the twentieth century after the renovations. While Cuypers* main building is being renovated, however, the Rijksmuseum is concentrating exclusively on the art and history of the Golden Age. Under the title Rijksmuseum, The Masterpieces the very finest of what Holland produced in the seventeenth century is on view. In the first place, of course, this means the paintings by the great masters from Hals to Vermeer, but there is more than that. The unique dolls' houses, an impressive ship's model and the world-famous delftware are alsó displayed. What makes a visit to the Rijksmuseum so special is that - as well as painting - sculpture, the decorative arts and the history of the seventeenth century are alsó presented to the highest standards. Nowhere else in the world is there such a complete overview of Dutch furniture, ceram-ics, silver or glass. More than two centuries of col-lecting have resulted in the most wide-ranging and representative survey of art in the Republic of the United Provinces. With its strong fleet and worldwide trading ven-tures, the Netherlands in the seventeenth century was a formidable power which commanded the respect of other countries in Europe. In the Dutch East India Company (VOC) the Republic created what was in essence the first multinational. Prosperity and flourishing arts went hand in hand. The spirit of enterprise was combined with curiosity, so that science too made rapid strides. Moreover, tol-erance ensured that many who feared for their safety or religious freedom elsewhere found a welcome in the Netherlands. This unique story will be presented in the Philips Wing of the Rijksmuseum in the years ahead. There a fascinating tale is brought to life at the highest artistic level. A masterly experience awaits you! Ronald de Leeuw Director General of the Rijksmuseum