Today I had the Rijksmuseum all to myself (for 24 minutes)
I saw some of the certified platinum bangers:
In no order, just what an 8.59am entry gets you to by 9.23am in the #HallOfTheGreats
Portrait of a Girl Dressed in Blue by Johannes "JV" Verspronck @1641
Completely unknown girl (so there's probably no model release paperwork)
So adorable (despite following the custom of portraying children as small adults - but her face gives it away)
The Golden Lion by Willem van "VD" de Velde the younger @1686
Heroic vessel named after the Dutch national emblem
Being already 20 years old and these being pragmatic people, the ship was shitcanned & broken up within a year of this painting
These are of course the only peeps in the world to have eaten (just his roasted liver) their Prime Minister (just 14 years prior to this pic)
The Standard Bearer by Rembrandt van Rijn @1636
Portly gentleman seems 50ish but it's a self portrait and he's only 30 years old - the 1630s equivalent of a bad selfie
Got sick of portraits for a couple of years after getting married (relatable…)
And then back into it with *this*
The Samplers of the Drapers' Guild by Rembrandt @1662
These blokes are responsible for assessing the quality of cloth that weavers sold to guild members
Like a street shot with a paparazzi interruption
Dude on the right not gotta bag, #GotGloves
Marriage Portrait of Isaac & Beatrix by Frans Hals @1622
So right off the bat this is not pre, present or post Coitus Interruptus (sic sex)
(In any sense of the Einsteinian Observer Conundrum)
Halloween is coming, so I too shall be donning a broad-brimmed black felt hat, a black silk costume with a lace collar and fine linen wristbands
Company of Captain Rosecrans & Lieutenant Pauw by Cornelis Ketel @1588
Ketel is known as a Dutch Mannerist painter (it's not a Finishing school)
Not just 13 guys, but a Butcher's Dozen of Rock God Legends
Upper class, heavy weapons, fancy threads
Like an end of season footy/football trip to Cabo/Bali/Ibiza
They clearly borrowed the scary looking muzzled dog b/c their hearts are with the little jaunty lapdog
Portrait Trio by Jacques "JJ" Jordaens @1635
Rogier Le Witer // the Grand charity collector of Antwerp (but not like those people who wave at you in the street)Catherine Behaghel // fancy fan symobolizing that she's rich
Magdalena de Cuyper // flowering tulip symbolizing transience