Rijksmuseum, The Masterpieces
From December 2003 to 2008 the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam will undergo the biggest
rebuilding, renovation and modernisation programme in its history. During this
period the finest works from the 17th century in the Rijksmuseum will continue
to be on view under the title The Masterpieces. The redesigned Philips Wing of
the Rijksmuseum will provide an opportunity to see the highlights of the Golden
Age together in a one hour tour. The more than 400 masterpieces will be on display
in the Philips Wing from 20 December 2003. Rijksmuseum, The Masterpieces has
been realised thanks to sponsorship by Royal Philips Electronics and the Sponsor
Lottery.
The famous dolls’ houses, the finest Delftware, a wealth of silver,
icons of Dutch history and of course the paintings by the great masters of
the 17th century, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Vermeer and Rembrandt, will have a
provisional new home in the Philips Wing. For many of these works this will
be the first time that they have left their place in the Rijksmuseum. Rembrandt’s
Night Watch, for example, has rarely left the main building designed by Pierre
Cuypers since it opened in 1885.
The miracle of the Golden Age: wealth, trade and burghers
The new presentation The Masterpieces is arranged according to distinctive
themes. Central to this presentation is the story of the miracle of the Golden
Age: the sudden and unprecedented rise in the prosperity and power of the
young Republic of the Seven United Provinces, its leading international role
as a trading nation, and the important position within it of the burghers.
Historical icons such as Johan van Oldenbarnevelt’s cane, the book
chest in which Grotius escaped from prison, the stern decoration from the
captured English warship the Royal Charles and models of the imposing tombs
of the admirals Maarten Tromp and Michiel de Ruyter are just a few of the
many objects which illustrate the themes. But paintings too, such as the
great seascapes by Willem van de Velde, the portraits of Prince Maurice and
King-Stadholder William III and the many views of distant and exotic places,
give a picture of the remarkable role the Netherlands played in the world
in the 17th century.
Contacts
Tel. +31 (0)20 6747047 (public info)
Fax. +31 (0)20 6747001
email: info@rijksmuseum.nl
Web: www.rijksmuseum.nl
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Postal address
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
PO Box 74888
1070 DN Amsterdam
The Netherlands
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You can buy these masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum:
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