Alderman Saskia Bruines (Culture) and director of the Hague Historical Museum Tjeerd Vrij unveiled the painting View of The Hague in the Atrium of The Hague City Hall today.
With a width of 4.6 meters , View of The Hague from the southeast from 1651 is one of the largest cityscapes ever made in the Netherlands. The painting was made by Jan van Goyen, already a famous painter of landscapes and cityscapes in his time. The artwork will be on display in the city hall for a year and a half.
The museum is currently being renovated and to keep the special painting accessible to the public, it is being exhibited in the Atrium. The Hague Historical Museum, the municipality of The Hague and the Atrium City Hall foundation have entered into a unique partnership to make this possible.
Tjeerd Vrij: “We are extremely pleased that the museum has the opportunity to present this masterpiece for a longer period of time in the heart of our city. The View of The Hague was made for the city and therefore for all residents of The Hague, it is a painting that, after centuries, still radiates the pride of the city.”
Jan van Goyen made this work on behalf of the magistrate of The Hague. It hung in the town hall on the Groenmarkt for centuries before it was transferred to the Hague Historical Museum.
Saskia Bruines: “We are honored that this beautiful work of art will be on display in the Atrium of the city hall for the next year and a half. A special surprise for the residents of The Hague who come here for passports, permits and other matters. The painting was once made especially for the old city hall, so in a sense it is now back home.”
Theo Heere (chairman of the Atrium City Hall foundation): “Thanks to our unique collaboration, it has been possible for the first time since the opening of the City Hall and the establishment of the Atrium City Hall Foundation to display a work of art for a longer period in the Atrium. This masterpiece can be seen alongside the more than 50 changing exhibitions and events that take place annually in the Atrium, which are produced and coordinated by Atrium City Hall.”
Featured Photo: Alderman Saskia Bruines (Culture) unveils View of The Hague in The Hague City Hall .
Photographer: Martijn Beekman.