Dame Joanna Lumley Enhances Rijksmuseum's Frans Hals Exhibition Experience in Amsterdam
British actress Dame Joanna Lumley is set to guide visitors through the world of 17th-century painter Frans Hals with her narration of the Rijksmuseum's new "Frans Hals: Strokes of Genius" Online Discovery Tour. This digital experience, launching on February 16, coincides with the opening of a major Frans Hals exhibition at the Amsterdam institution. Known for her appreciation of Dutch Golden Age art, Lumley's involvement promises an engaging journey into Hals's distinctive style.
The Online Discovery Tour: An Immersive Journey
The "Frans Hals: Strokes of Genius" tour invites art enthusiasts to explore Haarlem in the 1600s, a period when Frans Hals was a highly sought-after portraitist. Lumley's narration brings to life the diverse characters depicted in Hals's works, from regents to musicians and laughing children, highlighting his revolutionary approach to capturing movement and vitality. The tour also offers an opportunity to delve into Hals's biography and examine his paintings in intricate detail through zoom functionality. This initiative follows the successful "Closer to Vermeer" web special from 2023, which featured Stephen Fry as narrator and garnered significant international recognition, having been viewed by over 900,000 people (learn more about the Vermeer web special).
Frans Hals: A Master of the Golden Age
Born in Antwerp and later settling in Haarlem after his family fled from Spanish conflict, Frans Hals (c. 1582/84-1666) developed into one of the most celebrated painters of his era. His unique and progressive painting technique earned him lasting admiration, inspiring artists like Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh centuries later.
Discovering Frans Hals's Masterpieces at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is hosting a significant exhibition featuring approximately fifty of Frans Hals's finest works, gathered from leading international collections. This presentation follows its previous showing at the National Gallery London. Visitors to the Amsterdam exhibition will have a unique opportunity to see several pieces exclusive to the Rijksmuseum, including The Banquet of the Officers of the St George Militia Company (1616) and The Regentesses of the Old Men's Almshouse (c. 1664), both on loan from Haarlem’s Frans Hals Museum and previously unloaned. Other notable inclusions are Fisher Boy (c. 1630) from a private collection and Laughing Boy (c. 1625) from the Mauritshuis in The Hague. A highlight of the exhibition is the rare return of Hals’s famed The Laughing Cavalier (1624) to the Netherlands after more than 150 years, on loan from London’s Wallace Collection, marking a historic decision for that institution.
Planning Your Visit to the Frans Hals Exhibition in Amsterdam
The "Frans Hals" exhibition will be open daily from February 16 to June 9, 2024, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., located in the Philips Wing of the Rijksmuseum. There is no additional charge for entry to the exhibition beyond standard museum admission. To ensure your visit, it is necessary to reserve a specific time slot via the Rijksmuseum’s website. Friends of the Rijksmuseum benefit from complimentary admission and do not need to book a time slot. For further details about the exhibition and related press materials, additional information is available online.
For those eager to delve deeper into Amsterdam's vibrant cultural scene or discover other remarkable museums, Musemap (musemap.art) offers a curated guide to city-based experiences. Continue your exploration by browsing other museums in Amsterdam or finding out what's on during your visit.
