National Gallery of Art, Washington
October 8, 2017, through January 7, 2018
- Hieronymus Bosch, The Owl's Nest, c. 1505/1515
pen and brown ink on paper, laid down
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Rotterdam's historic
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen holds one of the finest collections of
Netherlandish master drawings. In a special presentation of this
collection at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, some 100 works
explore the many functions of drawings, from preparatory studies for
paintings and designs for prints to finished works of art. On view from
October 8, 2017, through January 7, 2018, Bosch to Bloemaert: Early Netherlandish Drawings from the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
includes landscapes, portraits, biblical scenes, and historical and
mythological scenes that will be exhibited in the United States only in
Washington.
"This exhibition presents a stunning selection of Netherlandish drawings," said Earl A. Powell III, director, National Gallery of Art, Washington. "The National Gallery of Art has a nearly 50-year tradition of presenting drawing exhibitions that focus on specific treasures from other collections around the world, and we are delighted to be able to introduce our visitors to this selection of rare, innovative, and distinctive sheets from this distinguished Rotterdam institution. As the final venue for the exhibition's tour, we are delighted to be the only U.S. museum presenting these works to our millions of visitors in the nation's capital."
Organization
The exhibition is organized by the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam.
The exhibition premiered at the Fondation Custodia, Paris, from March 22 through June 22, 2014, and traveled to the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, where it was presented in three parts from November 1, 2014, through July 26, 2015.
About the Exhibition
While the exhibition features the remarkable skill and virtuosity of masters such as Hieronymus Bosch, Abraham Bloemaert, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and Hendrick Goltzius, several key examples also reveal the variety of functions served by drawings across the 15th through 17th centuries.
In the 15th-century artist's workshop, meticulous studies recorded compositions and motifs for reuse in later works. Several drawings on view likely served this purpose, including a newly discovered sheet of the crucifixion dating from around 1440 to 1450, from the workshop of Jan van Eyck (c. 1390–1441). A selection of 16th-century drawings includes a number of preliminary studies, such as a rare complete set of preparatory drawings for a print series by Hans Bol (1534–1593). Two very different figure studies for a painting by Abraham Bloemaert (1566-1651) offer a glimpse into artistic practices in the early 17th century.
The exhibition also traces the major artistic developments of the time. Among the most important was the emergence of landscape as a genre, a movement marked in the exhibition by several panoramic mountain views by the great master Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c. 1525/1530–1569).
Studies of local and faraway scenes by later artists include
Flooded Valley with Trees by Pieter's son, Jan Breughel (1568–1625),
and Landscape with Horsemen out Hawking, by Joos de Momper (1564–1635).
This period reflects a shift in attitudes toward drawings themselves, as both artists and collectors began to view them as autonomous works of art.
The Owl's Nest (c. 1505/1515) by Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450–1516) is a spectacular early example of this trend.
Decades later, the innovative painter and printmaker Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617) made independent drawings in a variety of media. The exhibition includes 14 works by Goltzius, drawings that range from tiny metalpoint portraits to elaborate pen studies. His work also exemplifies the increasingly international character of Netherlandish art, as Goltzius absorbed the influence of the classical and Renaissance works he saw in Italy and adapted the sophisticated style his counterparts brought home from the imperial court in Prague.
Curators and Catalog
The exhibition is curated by Albert J. Elen, senior curator of drawings and prints, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam. Stacey Sell, associate curator, department of old master drawings, National Gallery of Art, Washington, is the coordinating curator for the presentation in Washington.
Published by the Fondation Custodia and Uitgeverij THOTH, Bussum, the fully illustrated exhibition catalog is the result of a long-term research project into this unique collection of drawings at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. Some 400 old master drawings have been cataloged in recent years, and a selection of 140 of the finest works is presented in full-page format and color in this catalog, together with explanatory texts and supporting illustrations. The 296-page catalog will be available in softcover.
- Hendrick Goltzius, The Sense of Sight from the series The Five Senses, c. 1595/1596. Black chalk, pen and brown ink, brown wash, and red chalk, heightened with white and indented, partially overdrawn in graphite, overall: 15.9 12.4 cm. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam.
"This exhibition presents a stunning selection of Netherlandish drawings," said Earl A. Powell III, director, National Gallery of Art, Washington. "The National Gallery of Art has a nearly 50-year tradition of presenting drawing exhibitions that focus on specific treasures from other collections around the world, and we are delighted to be able to introduce our visitors to this selection of rare, innovative, and distinctive sheets from this distinguished Rotterdam institution. As the final venue for the exhibition's tour, we are delighted to be the only U.S. museum presenting these works to our millions of visitors in the nation's capital."
Organization
The exhibition is organized by the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam.
The exhibition premiered at the Fondation Custodia, Paris, from March 22 through June 22, 2014, and traveled to the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, where it was presented in three parts from November 1, 2014, through July 26, 2015.
About the Exhibition
While the exhibition features the remarkable skill and virtuosity of masters such as Hieronymus Bosch, Abraham Bloemaert, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and Hendrick Goltzius, several key examples also reveal the variety of functions served by drawings across the 15th through 17th centuries.
In the 15th-century artist's workshop, meticulous studies recorded compositions and motifs for reuse in later works. Several drawings on view likely served this purpose, including a newly discovered sheet of the crucifixion dating from around 1440 to 1450, from the workshop of Jan van Eyck (c. 1390–1441). A selection of 16th-century drawings includes a number of preliminary studies, such as a rare complete set of preparatory drawings for a print series by Hans Bol (1534–1593). Two very different figure studies for a painting by Abraham Bloemaert (1566-1651) offer a glimpse into artistic practices in the early 17th century.
Pieter
Bruegel Mountain Landscape with a Mule Caravan, c. 1553/1555pen and dark brown
ink with traces of red chalk and blue inkoverall: 21.7 ×30.2 cm (8 9/16 ×11 7/8
in.)framed: 43.5 ×57.5 cm (17 1/8 ×22 5/8 in.)Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Pieter
Bruegel Mountain Landscape with the Journey to Emmaus, c. 1560pen and brush and
gray and brown ink with traces of black chalkoverall: 24.4 ×37.1 cm (9 5/8 ×14
5/8 in.)framed: 43.5 ×57.5 cm (17 1/8 ×22 5/8 in.)Museum Boijmans Van
Beuningen, Rotterdam
Pieter
Bruegel View of Reggio di Calabria, c. 1560 pen and brown ink with brown and gray
wash (added later)overall: 15.6 ×24.2 cm (6 1/8 ×9 1/2 in.)framed: 43.5 ×57.5
cm (17 1/8 ×22 5/8 in.)Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
The exhibition also traces the major artistic developments of the time. Among the most important was the emergence of landscape as a genre, a movement marked in the exhibition by several panoramic mountain views by the great master Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c. 1525/1530–1569).
Studies of local and faraway scenes by later artists include
Flooded Valley with Trees by Pieter's son, Jan Breughel (1568–1625),
and Landscape with Horsemen out Hawking, by Joos de Momper (1564–1635).
This period reflects a shift in attitudes toward drawings themselves, as both artists and collectors began to view them as autonomous works of art.
- Hieronymus Bosch, The Owl's Nest, c. 1505/1515
pen and brown ink on paper, laid down
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
The Owl's Nest (c. 1505/1515) by Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450–1516) is a spectacular early example of this trend.
Decades later, the innovative painter and printmaker Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617) made independent drawings in a variety of media. The exhibition includes 14 works by Goltzius, drawings that range from tiny metalpoint portraits to elaborate pen studies. His work also exemplifies the increasingly international character of Netherlandish art, as Goltzius absorbed the influence of the classical and Renaissance works he saw in Italy and adapted the sophisticated style his counterparts brought home from the imperial court in Prague.
Curators and Catalog
The exhibition is curated by Albert J. Elen, senior curator of drawings and prints, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam. Stacey Sell, associate curator, department of old master drawings, National Gallery of Art, Washington, is the coordinating curator for the presentation in Washington.
Published by the Fondation Custodia and Uitgeverij THOTH, Bussum, the fully illustrated exhibition catalog is the result of a long-term research project into this unique collection of drawings at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. Some 400 old master drawings have been cataloged in recent years, and a selection of 140 of the finest works is presented in full-page format and color in this catalog, together with explanatory texts and supporting illustrations. The 296-page catalog will be available in softcover.
Hieronymus Bosch Spinster and Old Woman (recto), c. 1480/1490pen and brown
and gray ink over all: 12 ×8.5 cm (4 3/4 ×3 3/8 in.)framed: 57.5 ×43.5 cm (22 5/8
×17 1/8 in.)Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Hieronymus
Bosch Fox and Rooster (verso), c. 1480/1490pen and brown and gray inkoverall: 12
×8.5 cm (4 3/4 ×3 3/8 in.)framed: 57.5 ×43.5 cm (22 5/8 ×17 1/8 in.)Museum
Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Lucas
van Leyden Jaël Killing Sisera, c. 1520/1525 pen and brown ink overall: 27.1 ×20.3
cm (10 11/16 ×8 in.)framed: 57.5 ×43.5 cm (22 5/8 ×17 1/8 in.)Museum Boijmans
Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Jan
Swart van Groningen The Elders Spying on Susanna, c. 1530/1550pen and black and
brown ink with brown washoverall: 26.3 ×19.8 cm (10 3/8 ×7 13/16 in.)framed:
57.5 ×43.5 cm (22 5/8 ×17 1/8 in.)Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Hans
Bol January (Aquarius) from the series The Twelve Months, c. 1580/1581pen and
brown ink with brown wash, on a circular piece of paper, laid downdiameter: 14
cm (5 1/2 in.)framed: 43.5 ×57.5 cm (17 1/8 ×22 5/8 in.)Museum Boijmans Van
Beuningen, Rotterdam
Hans
Bol February (Pisces) from the series The Twelve Months, c. 1580/1581pen and
brown ink with brown wash, on a circular piece of paper, laid downdiameter: 14
cm (5 1/2 in.)framed: 43.5 ×57.5 cm (17 1/8 ×22 5/8 in.)Museum Boijmans Van
Beuningen, Rotterdam
Hans
Bol March (Aries) from the series The Twelve Months, c. 1580/1581pen and brown
ink with brown wash, on a circular piece of paper, laid downdiameter: 14 cm (5
1/2 in.)framed: 43.5 ×57.5 cm (17 1/8 ×22 5/8 in.)Museum Boijmans Van
Beuningen, Rotterdam
Abraham
Bloemaert The Annunciation, c. 1615/1618black chalk with pen and brown ink and
brown wash, heightened with white and indented, ondiscolored blue paperoverall:
34.5 ×27.8 cm (13 9/16 ×10 15/16 in.)framed: 57.5 ×43.5 cm (22 5/8 ×17 1/8
in.)Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Hendrick
Goltzius The Man with the Potato Nose, c. 1600/1605pen and brown inksheet: 23.8
×16.7 cm (9 3/8 ×6 9/16 in.)framed: 57.5 ×43.5 cm (22 5/8 ×17 1/8 in.)Museum
Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Abraham
Bloemaert The Lamentation of Christ, c. 1625black and white chalk with stumping
on light brown papersheet: 14.6 ×26.3 cm (5 3/4 ×10 3/8 in.)framed: 43.5 ×57.5
cm (17 1/8 ×22 5/8 in.)Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Hans Bol April (Taurus) from the series The
Twelve Months , c. 1580/1581 pen and brown ink with brown wash, on a circular
piece of paper, laid down diameter: 14 cm (5 1/2 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Hans Bol May (Gemini) from the series The
Twelve Months , c. 1580/1581 pen and brown ink with brown wash, on a circular
piece of paper, laid down diameter: 14 cm (5 1/2 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Hans Bol June (Cancer) from the series The Twelve Months , c. 1580/1581 pen and brown ink with brown wash, on a circular piece of paper, laid down diameter: 14 cm (5 1/2 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Hans Bol July (Leo) from the series The Twelve
Months , c. 1580/1581 pen and brown ink with brown wash, on a circular piece of
paper, laid down diameter: 14 cm (5 1/2 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Hans Bol August (Virgo) from the series The
Twelve Months , c. 1580/1581 pen and brown ink with brown wash, on a circular
piece of paper, laid down diameter: 14 cm (5 1/2 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Hans Bol September (Libra) from the series The Twelve Months , c. 1580/1581 pen and brown ink with brown wash, on a circular piece of paper, laid down diameter: 14 cm (5 1/2 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Hans Bol October (Scorpio) from the series The
Twelve Months , c. 1580/1581 pen and brown ink with brown wash, on a circular
piece of paper, laid down diameter: 14 cm (5 1/2 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Hans Bol November (Sagittarius) from the series The Twelve Months , c. 1580/1581 pen and brown ink with brown wash, on a circular piece of paper, laid down diameter: 14 cm (5 1/2 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Hans Bol December (Capricorn) from the series
The Twelve Months , c. 1580/1581 pen and brown ink with brown wash, on a
circular piece of paper, laid down diameter: 14 cm (5 1/2 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Hans Bol The Prodigal Son Squandering His
Wealth , 1584 pen and dark brown ink with brown wash, indented overall: 12.4 × 17.9 cm (4 7/8 × 7 1/16 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
.
No. 34 / File Name: 3957-039.
Hans Bol Forest Landscape with a Stream , 1588
pen and brown ink with gray wash and traces of black chalk overall: 14.6 × 21.2 cm (5 3/4 × 8 3/8 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
.
No. 40 / File Name: 3957-042.
Maarten van Heemskerck The Triumph of Joseph ,
1559 pen and brown ink overall: 18.3 × 26.2
cm (7 3/16 × 10 5/16 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Pieter Bruegel Charity , 1559 pen and brown
ink, indented overall: 22.4 × 29.3 cm (8
13/16 × 11 9/16 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Pieter Bruegel Fortitude , 1560 pen and brown
ink, indented, on paper, laid down overall: 22.5 × 29.6 cm (8 7/8 × 11 5/8 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Pieter Bruegel Temperance , 1560 pen and brown
ink, indented overall: 22.1 × 29.4 cm (8
11/16 × 11 9/16 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Hans Speckaert The Battle of the Gods and
Giants , c. 1575 black chalk with pen and brown ink and brown wash, heightened
with white overall: 41.5 × 26.8 cm (16
5/16 × 10 9/16 in.) framed: 52.5 × 68.7 cm (20 11/16 × 27 1/16 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Hendrick Goltzius Portrait of Jan Baertsz ,
1580 metalpoint, heightened with white, partially reworked with pen and brown
ink, with gouache, on ivory-colored prepared tablet overall: 8.3 × 7.7 cm (3 1/4 × 3 1/16 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Hendrick Goltzius Portrait of Maritgen
Pietersdochter , 1580 metalpoint, heightened with white, partially reworked
with pen and brown ink, with gouache, on ivory-colored prepared tablet overall:
8.2 × 7.5 cm (3 1/4 × 2 15/16 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Hendrick Goltzius The Sense of Hearing from
the series The Five Senses, c. 1595/1596 pen and brown ink and brown wash with
traces of black chalk, heightened with white, indented, partially overdrawn in
graphite overall: 15.9 × 12.4 cm (6 1/4 × 4 7/8 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Hendrick Goltzius The Sense of Taste from the series The Five Senses , c. 1595/1596 black chalk, pen and brown ink, and brown wash, heightened with white, indented, and partially overdrawn in graphite overall: 15.9 × 12.4 cm (6 1/4 × 4 7/8 in.) framed: 43.5 × 12.4 cm (17 1/8 × 4 7/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Abraham Bloemaert Interior of a Cooper's
Workshop , c. 1600/1610 black chalk and pen and brown ink with brown and red
wash overall: 19 × 24.2 cm (7 1/2 × 9 1/2 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam
Abraham Bloemaert The Lamentation of Christ ,
c. 1625 black chalk with pen and brown ink and brown wash, heightened with
white and squared overall: 23.1 × 37.8
cm (9 1/8 × 14 7/8 in.) framed: 43.5 × 57.5 cm (17 1/8 × 22 5/8 in.) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen,
Rotterdam