Mauritshuis acquires painting by Rembrandt's most influential teacher
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Saturday, September 28, 2024


Mauritshuis acquires painting by Rembrandt's most influential teacher
Ben van Doesburgh and Emilie Gordenker pose with Pieter Lastman's St John the Baptist Preaching.



THE HAGUE.- The Mauritshuis has for many years had an engaging and high-quality painting by Pieter Lastman (1583-1633), Rembrandt’s most influential teacher, on its wish list. This dream has now been fulfilled with the acquisition of St John the Baptist Preaching of 1627. The painting was purchased from an American owner by the Friends of the Mauritshuis Foundation with the support of a private donor.

Emilie Gordenker, Director Mauritshuis: ‘The timing of the acquisition of this painting by Lastman, at the beginning of a national Rembrandt Year, is ideal. We have been on the lookout for an outstanding example of Lastman’s work, due to the impact he had on the young Rembrandt. We are extremely grateful to everyone who made our wish come true, especially the private donor and the Friends of the Mauritshuis.’

In his day the Amsterdam artist Pieter Lastman was one of the leading painters of history paintings (works that depict stories from the Bible, classical mythology and antiquity). History paintings were then considered the pinnacle of what a painter could achieve, and to acquire this skill Rembrandt became Pieter Lastman’s pupil in 1625-1626. Although Lastman who was Rembrandt’s teacher for only six months, had a great influence on his pupil’s development. This acquisition fills a gap in the Mauritshuis collection: although history paintings from the Dutch Golden Age are well represented, the same could not be said for the work of Lastman and the painters in his circle (the so-called pre-Rembrandtists).

By the book
St John the Baptist Preaching from 1627 is an excellent example of the history paintings that Lastman created during the period when Rembrandt was his pupil: a full composition, brightly lit, with a vivid colour palette. The composition was carefully built up, and entirely by the book – or to be more precise, according to Karel van Mander’s Schilder-Boeck of 1604. This publication explains how to put together a good composition – tricks that were child’s play for an experienced history painter like Lastman. As well as playing with composition, he also created depth in the scene by means of clever lighting: the crowd has gathered around John the Baptist, who is bathed in bright light, while many of the figures in his audience are in the shade. John the Baptist announcing the coming of Christ was a popular subject in painting.

Friends of the Mauritshuis Foundation
The Mauritshuis depends for a large part on private support, to which the Friends of the Mauritshuis make a significant contribution. In 1957, the Johan Maurits van Nassau Foundation was established, with the aim of supporting the museum with the expansion of the collection and the realisation of exhibitions and publications. The foundation itself also acquired paintings and placed them on long-term loan to the museum. In 1982 a second foundation was set up: the Friends of the Mauritshuis Foundation, intended to raise funds. In 1986 both foundations merged and a major campaign was held to recruit volunteers, friends and donors. One of the main objectives was still to support the museum with the purchase of paintings. In addition, the Friends make a very important contribution to temporary exhibitions in the museum.










Today's News

January 18, 2019

Mauritshuis acquires painting by Rembrandt's most influential teacher

Banksy in Tokyo? City launches probe

Israeli museum removing 'McJesus' after Christian protests

Pace Gallery opens the first exhibition of works by Richard Pousette-Dart in London

Victoria Miro announces representation of Howardena Pindell

Newly-discovered work by Raphael and rare drawing by Rubens to lead Sotheby's Sale of Old Master Drawings

Bidding opens for Lark Mason Associates and Everard Auctions Decorative Art Sales

Peter Blum Gallery opens an exhibition of works on paper by David Rabinowitch

A new exhibition at The Morgan presents innovative contemporary drawings

Exhibition presents an overview of nearly two decades of Richard Slee's career

Exhibition of four monumental works by Georges Mathieu on view at Nahmad Contemporary

Sarah Watson joins Kayne Griffin Corcoran as President

Michael Hilsman's first solo show with Almine Rech opens in New York

Aviva Lehmann Promoted to Vice President & Director of American Art at Heritage Auctions

New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association sponsors Jan. 24 Americana, folk art auction

Whitechapel Gallery opens an exhibition of works from the "la Caixa" Collection of Contemporary Art

Galerie Nathalie Obadia opens Spanish artist Josep Grau-Garriga's first solo exhibition in Belgium

Exhibition brings together works that meditate on the creation of new worlds and new models for living

Exhibition at Camden Arts Centre presents two new, interconnected artist films

The Mosaic Rooms continues its 10th anniversary programme in 2019 with 'When Legacies Become Debts'

Simon Lee Gallery opens a solo exhibition of new works by British artist Clare Woods

Exhibition of contemporary furniture opens at Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House

Collaborative exhibition that explores the excellence of Oregon artists opens in Eugene

Kimathi Donkor wins the De'Longhi Art Projects Artist Award 2019




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful