A unique exhibition of paintings "Dutch masters from the Hermitage" opened in Amsterdam

The exhibition "Dutch masters from the Hermitage, Treasures of the Kings" opened on Saturday in Amsterdam. The exposition presents 63 works belonging to the golden age of Dutch painting, including six works by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669).

As Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage, said in a conversation with a TASS correspondent, this is a serious and unique event. "When we were working on the opening of the Hermitage exhibition hall in Amsterdam 15 years ago, we promised that we would not bring Dutch painting in order not to compete with local museums," he said. "However, during this time the institution became part of the museum family of Amsterdam, and during the last two years we were literally begged to bring Rembrandt and other artists of the XVII century. " As a result, the State Hermitage nevertheless agreed, and the organization of the exposition was given a green light.

"This is one of the best collections of Dutch painting in the world and the best outside the Netherlands," the director drew attention. "In total, we have more than 1,500 paintings." "There are only 63 of these works on display in Amsterdam, but they also show a very important thing that there are not only Rembrandt in the Netherlands, but other masters who wrote real masterpieces," Piotrovsky remarked. "This is all the more important for Holland, where Rembrandt for a long time did not recognize the chief artist. "

In his opinion, the exhibition is open very timely. "When our political relations are not in the best condition, it is again important to recall the cultural ties, about Peter, Catherine, about the fact that culture stands above politics and that it is more important than those momentary things that are happening now," Piotrovsky said. It should be said that the Dutch government provided all the necessary guarantees, the whole set of what is needed to ensure that the exhibition was absolutely protected in all situations without any problems. "

Homecoming

For its part, the director of the Amsterdam Hermitage, Katelina Bruss, in her conversation with the TASS correspondent noted that the temporary return of Dutch works to their historical homeland is a truly unique event that will surely attract the attention of local residents. "We are very pleased that we can give the Dutch the opportunity to see these masterpieces that were sold many years ago," she said. "At the exposition we tell the public not only about the paintings themselves but also about how they got to Russia and why The State Hermitage has so many works of Dutch masters. "