DUTCH ART

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 509, 12 November 1928, Page 2

DUTCH ART

Big London Show GREATEST EVER HELD The greatest exhibition of Dutch art that the world has ever seen will be shown at the Royal Academy during the first three months of next year. One room will he devoted to Rembrandts and another to Frans Hals. Tho Exhibition of Dutch picUires—homely interiors and scenes of everyday life —will be one calculated to delight every man and woman, and is likely to prove one of the most popular for many years. Holland, Belgium, France, Germans, Denmark, Sweden, Rumania, Italy, Switzerland and Finland are all to send pictures, which will be shown together with a remarkable British group or Dutch masterpieces. Sir Joseph Duveen is organising a special collection from the United States, and an effort is being made to persuade Russia to join in an unprecedented international display of masterpieces. . The exhibition is being organised under the patronage of the King and Queen, and the Queen and Prince Henry of the Netherlands. “His Majesty is taking great interest in the work of organising the exhibition, and has promised to loan us five of his finest Dutch masters,’* said a member of the Anglo-Batavian committee arranging the exhibition. “This has given a lead to all the noblemen of Britain who —with one prominent exception—are only too anxious to lend us pictures. “It is quite a sacrifice, as we shall want the pictures at Christmas —the very time of the year when private collectors show and enjoy their treasures. “We have at present three famous connoisseurs from Holland—Mr. Schmid Degener (director of the State Museum, Amsterdam), Mr. Jlir. Roell and Dr. Schneider (of the Maurits Haufe, The Hague)—travelling round the country picking out pictures. “They have been to Yorkshire, Lancashire and Durham, and there is such a rush to lend pictures that they are viewing six collections every day! . “It will v be essentially a sane exhibition —pictures of everyday peoplo and everyday life, which can be enjoyed by every man and his wife.’* Masterpiece for 5s “We hope to make special arrangements for school visits,” continued the' member of the committee, “as many of the pictures will be particularly attractive to the children. “We shall have, for example, Vermeer’s “Little Girl’s Head”—one of the loveliest pictures in the world—which every schoolboy and schoolgirl in London should see.”. This picture has a romantic history. It was sold shortly after the artist’s death for a few pounds and lost for 200 years. In 1882 it appeared at an auction sale, and was purchased for 5s by a picture lover, who realised its immense value and passed it on to The Hague Gallery. Among famous Rembrandts will be “The Jewish Bride,” and “Susan in the Bath.” Steps are being taken to get representative’ pictures by famous modern Dutch painters. These will include a number of paintings by Vincent van Gogh, which will come from France, where his best work was produced. Among public galleries in this country sending pictures are the Scottish National Gallery, the Glasgow Corporation’s Gallery, the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge, and the Cheltenham and Brighton Art Galleries.