MORAGA, CA.- The Hearst Art Gallery at Saint Mary’s College presents today an exhibition of more than sixty nineteenth century Dutch masterpieces from the collection of. Dr. Jan and Mrs. Mary Ann Beekhuis.

The nineteenth century was a tremendous period of artistic creativity and productivity in the Netherlands. Fueled in part by the return of Dutch independence in 1813, collecting art became popular with the growing middle class, and the number of Dutch artists increased six-fold between 1800 and 1840. The works selected for the exhibition have rarely been on view, and never before on the West Coast.

Paintings by more than sixty different artists represent a broad range of styles and subject matter, including cityscapes, landscapes, seascapes, still lifes, portraits, and interiors. The exhibition is comprised of three main groupings: Dutch Romanticism, The famous Hague School, and Dutch Impressionism. Many of the artworks are large in scale. A richly illustrated and substantial catalog, with an essay by the curator and a complete checklist, accompanies the exhibition.