ArtDependence | Heirs demand return of Artworks from Mauritshuis Netherlands

Friday, September 27, 2024

The heirs of art historian Abraham Bredius, who passed away in 1946, are demanding the return of several artworks from the Mauritshuis museum. Their lawyer confirmed this following a report by NRC. The museum in The Hague allegedly has not upheld agreements regarding the exhibition of the works, which include masterpieces by Rembrandt.

Before his death, Bredius had agreed with the Mauritshuis that he would leave 25 of his artworks to the museum. In return, the works were to be on display in the museum's galleries. However, it has come to light that 20 of the 25 works are not on display.

The heirs are now appealing to the terms of this original agreement. Although they are not direct descendants of Bredius, they are relatives of Joseph Kronig (1887-1984), Bredius's protégé. Bredius and Kronig spent much of their lives together, and Kronig was the sole heir to Bredius's estate.

The family's lawyer, Gert Jan van den Bergh, stated that Bredius was very strict about the terms of his will. "Early in the 20th century, he had already donated part of his collection to the Rijksmuseum, only to discover that the works were hung in a dark area near a staircase. He never wanted that to happen again."

For the works given to the Mauritshuis after his death, Bredius imposed strict conditions that they must always be on display. "In reality, the museum accepted the collection but not the conditions," said Van den Bergh. The lawyer emphasized that the family's intentions are not financial, and they do not plan to sell the artworks. "It's about honoring the terms of the will."

Bredius (1855-1946) was a renowned expert on 17th-century Dutch paintings. From 1889 to 1909, he served as the director of the Mauritshuis. The museum had itself requested that he leaves his works to them. His collection includes paintings by Rembrandt, Jan Steen, and Jan van Goyen.

Currently, four works by Rembrandt and one by Van Ruysdael are still on display. A summons was delivered to the Mauritshuis and the Dutch state, the owner of the museum's collection. The Mauritshuis has stated that it cannot comment while the case is ongoing.

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