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The National Gallery of Art, Dutch Ambassador Renée Jones-Bos and Mayor Jozias van Aartsen Celebrate the Golden Age of Dutch Paintings with the Exhibition, “Pride of Place: Dutch Cityscapes of the Golden Age”
January 30, 2024
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L – R: Arthur Wheelock, Curator of Northern Baroque Paintings, Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague, Ambassador Renée Jones-Bos
As the Netherlands and New York embark on activities to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Dutch-American friendship (www.ny400.nl), the National Gallery of Art and the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis have brought together an outstanding collection of genre paintings known as ‘cityscapes’ to Washington, DC.
Pride of Place: Dutch Cityscapes of the Golden Age consists of 70 works of arts including 40 paintings by Dutch masters such as Gerrit Berckheyde, Aelbert Cuyp and Jan van Goyen, as well as maps, atlases and illustrated books.
L – R: Arthur Wheelock, Curator of Northern Baroque Paintings, Emilie Gordenker, Director of the Mauritshuis, Ambassador Renée Jones-Bos, Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague
The exhibition offers an expansive view of 17th century Dutch cities including Amsterdam, Haarlem, Delft, Dordrecht, Hoorn and Nijmegen but none is more expansive than van Goyen’s gigantic 15 foot painting, View of The Hague from the Southeast, which is being seen for the first time in the United States.
Dutch Cityscapes coincides with the Quadricentennial Celebration of friendship between the Netherlands and the United States. In 1609, a Dutch East India Company vessel, the “Halve Maen”, skippered by Captain Henry Hudson, arrived at the site of what is now New York City. The Dutch would seize upon the opportunity to establish the settlement of New Netherland on the shores of the Hudson River. It is likely that many of the Dutch settlers departed from cities depicted in these paintings.
Pride of Place: Dutch Cityscapes of the Golden Age is on view February 1 through May 3, 2024 in the National Gallery of Art, West Building.
For further information please visit www.nga.gov
Statement by Renée Jones-Bos, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United States on the National Gallery of Art Exhibit Pride of Place: “Dutch Cityscapes of the Golden Age”
Ambassador Renée Jones-Bos
Pride of Place: Dutch Cityscapes of the Golden Age is a significant exhibition which brings to the United States a diverse collection of Dutch master renditions of 17th century cities in the Netherlands. This remarkable exhibit coincides with the Quadricentennial Celebration of friendship between the Netherlands and the United States, and emphasizes our enduring bonds in commerce, diplomacy and the arts, among many others.
In 1609, a Dutch East India Company vessel, the “Halve Maen”, skippered by Captain Henry Hudson, arrived at the site of what is now New York City. The Dutch would seize upon the opportunity to establish the settlement of New Netherland on the shores of the Hudson River. It is likely that many of the Dutch settlers departed from some of the cities depicted in the paintings here today – cities such as Amsterdam, The Hague, Hoorn, and Delft.
Putting these cities into their proper historical context lends an interesting perspective when viewing them. One can ponder whether Ruisdael’s paintings of Amsterdam depict the same harbor from which the ‘Halve Maen’ sailed. Or wonder about van Goyen’s ‘View of the Hague’, whether any of the painted figures left for the settlement of New Netherland – and if they did, whether their direct descendants are now living in New York. Perhaps the ships sailing intoVroom’s ‘View of Hoorn’ were bringing wares from the native American Indians, or the discussions in front of Saenredam’s ‘The Old Town Hall of Amsterdam’ were about the recently established municipal charter in the burgeoning city of New Amsterdam – a city on its way to becoming one of the greatest cities in the world.
Cities have impact on, and are impacted by, values, freedoms and families. No where is this more evident than in these paintings of ordinary Dutch cities which led to the extraordinary founding of New Netherland thereby contributing to a legacy of freedom, open-mindedness, entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and diversity on this country.
And just as these paintings have appreciated over time, so too have the bonds between the Netherlands and the United States. From the First Salute when the Dutch recognized America as a separate and independent sovereign nation, to today — whether we are helping to rebuild levees in New Orleans, or standing shoulder to shoulder with you in Afghanistan defending freedom and democracy, or being the 4th largest investor in your country, the Netherlands remains one of your closest allies. As we begin this fifth century of friendship, we appreciate what was, what is, and what is yet to come.
Statement by Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague on the National Gallery of Art exhibition “Pride of Place”
Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague
Some two weeks ago, standing in front of The Hague’s Historical Museum, I felt like an anxious parent. For the large Van Goyen-cityscape that I saw being very, very carefully manoeuvred through a first floor window, for the first stage of its journey to Washington, had never travelled for more than a few miles. It wasn’t even part of this exhibition in the Mauritshuis, because it was simply too big to pass through the elegant staircase of that charming little palace. But it’s here! Measuring five by 15 feet, it’s got tremendous “Wallpower”
For more than 3 centuries it hung in the building it was originally made for, The Hagues medieval City Hall. It was commissioned by the proud burgomasters of the prosperous city round 1650. Van Goyen received 650 guilders for his work, a huge sum. You have to bear in mind that he seldom got more than 20 guilders for a painting. The money was very welcome for the enterprising painter. So much so that he tried to cash in for a second time. Of course my worthy predecessors, whose severe faces above immaculate white lace collars today still look down on young couples getting married, didn’t let Van Goyen get away with that.
Van Goyens View of The Hague is a striking example of civic pride.
We see the city under clouded skies on a summerday, sitting calmly in fertile fields. An open city, because this seat of government, was not walled, it never had fortifications. (It would take to much time to explain the reasons. Other Dutch cities still tend to make fun of us because of this).
The fields have gone. There is exciting modern architecture now. The Hague, international city of peace and justice, has become the fourth city of the United Nations, together with Geneva, Vienna and of course New York.
But the landmarks Van Goyen painted are still there.
The clear lines of the Grote Kerk, with the old City Hall in its shadow.
The steep roofs of The Binnenhof, once the seat of the counts of Holland, now the parliament building.
John Adams would still recognize the city where he served as the United States’ first ambassador in the late 18th century. The Binnenhof, shown on two other city-scapes in this Exihibiton by Gerrit Berckheyde remains almost unchanged.
Unchanged also are the ties that bind our two nations. This year we celebrate the Henry Hudson Year, to tighten these ties. My city will focus on the young people, with exchange-programs.
For now I look forward to see this magnificent collection of cityscapes once again, and marvel at the beauty and brilliance of these cities, the enterprising spirit of the people that build them and the sheer genius of the painters. I hope that, like me, you will feel that today they are as fresh as when they were painted. They draw you into that Golden Age. A most inspiring experience.
Contact:
Carla Bundy (202) 274-2632 or cy.bundy@minbuza.nl
Julia Koppius (202) 274-2634 or julia.koppius@minbuza.nl
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