Dutch gov't contributes millions to museums' acquisition of two Frans Hals portraits
The Mauritshuis in The Hague and the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem have together purchased two portraits of children painted by Frans Hals (1583-1666) at an auction in New York. The works cost 7.8 million dollars, or 6.85 million euros. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science’s National Purchase Fund paid up to 40 percent of that amount, 2.74 million euros.
Frans Hals is known for his portraits of everyday people. There are few examples of this type of work in Dutch museums, making the acquisition of Singing Girl and Violin-Playing Boy an important addition to the Dutch public art collection, the museums said.
The Haarlem painter painted the two portraits around 1628. They may be his own children, Frans and Sara.
“It is wonderful that these paintings by Frans Hals, which were previously owned by a foreign private individual, are back home,” said Culture Minister Eppo Bruins. “They offer a glimpse into daily life in the 17th century and are a wonderful example of Hals’ characteristic loose brushwork. It is wonderful that two museums, with the support of the government and private donors, are joining forces so that these unique Dutch masterpieces can soon be admired by everyone.”
The two paintings will be on display in the Frans Hals Museum from mid-July and in the Mauritshuis from mid-October. They will then continue to shuttle between the two museums. The two canvases will always stay together.
