Although this painting is considered a flower still-life, a lot more than flowers can be seen... look at all these beautiful creatures! 🦋Do you recognise the painting before scrolling to the last two images? #mauritshuis #thehague #denhaag #art #artlovers #museumlovers #kunst #schilderkunst #schilderijen #museum #musea #paintings #artwork #instaart #butterfly #snail #caterpillar #floral #flowers #flowerpower

STORY #5 - Here you see replicas and moulds of the ‘Benin Bronzes’, religious and royal sculptures from the kingdom of Benin, in what is now Nigeria. These plaster casts were made in the first half of the 20th century and have been painted to look as much as the original statues as possible. Around 5,000 original objects stolen from Benin are on display in 131 institutions around the world. Only a small number can be found in their country of origin. In 2022, the Ethnologisches Museum in Berlin transferred ownership of 514 original Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. Until then, the museum had held one of the largest collections of Benin art in the world. The return of the pieces also signalled the end of the production and sale of replicas. This raised new questions: who decides whether it is allowed to make replicas of original Bronzes? Should restitution of the objects mean handing over the rights of reproduction as well? Should museums still display original or replica Benin Bronzes in the future, and if so, how? So begins an ongoing conversation with many angles and possible outcomes. Read the full story at mauritshuis.nl/loot ____ This fall, The Mauritshuis presents ‘Loot – 10 stories’, an immersive exhibition with gripping VR-experiences that dares to address the topics of looted art and restitution. Book your timeslot now through mauritshuis.nl/loot. Guest curators and creative leads: @jongsma_oneill. In partnership with @humboldtforum, @stadtmuseumberlin and @staatlichemuseenzuberlin. Germany, 20th century Plaster casts and moulds of the Benin bronzes, plaster, silicon, varying sizes, Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gipsformerei. #roofkunst #loot #lootedart #benin #beninbronzes #nigeria #art #sculpture #museum #history #geschiedenis #tentoonstelling #museumkaart

'The Goldfinch' by Fabritius - here are 3 interesting facts! 🐦 Carel Fabritius was a student of Rembrandt. But he had his own style. He painted portraits, still lifes, cityscapes, and historical pieces, often in bright colors and with subtle lighting. 🐦 Why is a Goldfinch called a 'Puttertje' in Dutch? Goldfinches were popular as pets because they could be taught to draw water from a small bucket themselves (which is called 'putten' in Dutch). That's why they are called 'puttertjes.' 🐦 The painting was the inspiration for a book. Donna Tartt's novel 'The Goldfinch', was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. Have you ever seen 'The Goldfinch' at the Mauritshuis? #mauritshuis #thehague #denhaag #art #artlovers #museumlovers #kunst #schilderkunst #schilderijen #museum #musea #paintings #artwork #instaart #fabritius #rembrandt #goldfinch #donnatartt #puttertje #distelvink #birdlovers #vogels #birdsofinstagram #tweet

🌷Who doesn't love tulips? Although many people think of tulips when thinking of the Netherlands, this is not where they originated. Tulips are native to Central Asia and were first cultivated in areas stretching from modern-day Turkey to northwest China. Tulips were introduced to Western Europe in the 16th century and quickly became popular in the Netherlands. In the 17th century, some tulip bulbs were considered more valuable than gold. 👉These painted tulips are at least as beautiful as the real ones. Can you recognize the paintings? #mauritshuis #thehague #denhaag #artlovers #museum #museumlovers #kunst #schilderkunst #schilderijen #art #musea #paintings #artwork #instaart #tulips #flowers #floral #flowerpower #tulpen #tulpenuitamsterdam

This is a true cliffhanger. You see Adam and Eve just before they are thrown out of paradise. They were, according to various religions, the first humans in paradise, where all the animals lived together in harmony. There was food in abundance, they were just not allowed to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And what is Eve about to do? Exactly. The Garden of Eden with the Fall of Man (1615) - Jan Brueghel the Elder & Peter Paul Rubens #adam #eve #apple #eden #brueghel #rubens #painting #artwork #janbruegheltheelder #peterpaulrubens #mauritshuis #thehague #artlovers #museum #art

Donderdagavond 9 november a.s. is ondernemer, tv-kok en presentatrice Miljuschka Witzenhausen (@miljuschka) voor één avond directeur van het Mauritshuis. Deze unieke avond staat daarom natuurlijk in het teken van eten, maar Miljuschka heeft daarbovenop een inspirerend programma samengesteld dat alle zintuigen zal prikkelen.   Tijdens Maurits& Miljuschka proef je de favoriete lekkernij van Miljuschka, laat je je inspireren door haar samengestelde creatieve workshops, meevoeren in onze kunstcollectie en kun je genieten van een gezellige borrelpraat over kunst mét kaasproeverij. Ook gaat journalist, schrijfster en columnist Anna van den Breemer in gesprek met Miljuschka over haar leven, werk en liefde voor kunst. Boek jouw tickets en jouw plek bij de inspirerende activiteiten nu via mauritshuis.nl/maurits. Maurits& wordt mede mogelijk gemaakt door @nn_nederland. #miljuschka #miljuschkawitzenhausen #miljuschkakookt #kunstinspireertenverbindt #mauritshuis #denhaag #thisisthehague #thehague #museumkaart #koken #bodypositivity #kunstvanhetkoken ————— On November 9th, entrepreneur, TV chef and presenter Miljuschka Witzenhausen will be given the keys to our museum for one exclusive evening. This unique evening will be devoted to food, but Miljuschka has also put together an inspiring program that will stimulate all the senses. During Maurits& Miljuschka you will sample Miljuschka's favorite delicacies, you can join creative workshops, immerse yourself in our art collection, and enjoy a get-together about art with cheese tasting. Also, journalist, writer and columnist Anna van den Breemer will talk with Miljuschka about her life, work and love for art. Book your tickets via Mauritshuis.nl/maurits. Please note that the evening will be hosted in Dutch. Maurits& is sponsored by NN Group. #mauritshuis #thehague #denhaag #miljuschka #art #artlovers #artinspiresandconnects #selflove #cooking #bodypositivity #theartofcooking

STORY #4 - In the exhibition 'Loot - 10 stories' we show a video, in which you see the creation of a 3D model of the cannon of Kandy. The model is stored on the hard drive in the display case. The original decorative cannon was looted in 1765 from the palace of Kandy, in central Sri Lanka (Ceylon). By that time, the island’s coastal areas had been occupied for over 100 years by the Dutch East India Company (VOC), which profited greatly from the cinnamon trade. The cannon was shipped to the Netherlands and added to the collection of stadholder William V. In 1795, most of this collection was confiscated by French revolutionary troops and carried off to Paris, but the cannon stayed in the Netherlands. In 1825, it was added to the collection of the Royal Cabinet of Rarities, which was housed in the Mauritshuis. In 1875, it was transferred to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Since 1964, Sri Lanka has made several requests for the cannon to be returned. These repeated requests, the most recent of which was made in 2022, have finally been honoured in 2023. Once the cannon is back in Sri Lanka, the 3D model you are now looking at is all that will be left in our country. Reproductions such as these raise questions about intellectual property and the autonomy of works of art: are digital models simply copies of original pieces, or do these virtual objects have an intrinsic value of their own? Can digital files ever belong to a single owner, or should they be treated as world heritage? It is necessary that we work together to find answers to these questions. ______ This fall, The Mauritshuis presents ‘Loot – 10 stories’, an immersive exhibition with gripping VR-experiences that dares to address the topics of looted art and restitution. Book your timeslot now through mauritshuis.nl/loot. Guest curators and creative leads: @jongsma_oneill. In partnership with @humboldtforum, @stadtmuseumberlin and @staatlichemuseenzuberlin. Image: Jongsma + O'Neill, 3D-Model of the Canon of Kandy #loot #lootedart #srilanka #thehague #denhaag #exhibition #heritage #history #provenance #museumkaart

The Bible tells the story of Joseph’s imprisonment in Egypt, where he explained the dreams of his fellow prisoners. This painting shows Joseph - dressed in red - explaining the dreams of the baker and the pharaoh’s cupbearer. Their dreams appear in thought balloons above their heads, like in a modern-day comic strip. The panel was painted by Jan Mostaert, Haarlem’s leading painter in the first half of the sixteenth century. Joseph Explaining the Dreams of the Baker and the Cupbearer (1500) - Jan Mostaert (attributed to) #joseph #dreams #artwork #painting #janmostaert #mauritshuis #museum #thehague #art

Meet Antwerp fashionista Anna Wake; 22 years old and just married to (swipe!) Peeter Stevens. She shows off the latest French fashion here. Huge puffed sleeves, lots of lace, pearls. In her hand she holds a fan made of ostrich feathers, the accessory for trendy women. And what do you see around her thumb there? Portraits of Anna Wake (1628) & Peeter Stevens (1627) - Anthony van Dyck #annawake #peeterstevens #anthonyvandyck #portrait #painting #vandyck #artwork #mauritshuis #thehague #museum #art

Are we seeing double? Stick around and you'll suddenly see more! 🎵💜 After our last post on the Holbein portrait of Jane Seymour, actress Erin Caldwell (@erincaldwellxox) decided to pay us a little visit. She's starring as Jane in the touring production of @sixthemusical, currently playing in Rotterdam. Thank you so much for dropping by! #six #sixmusical #sixthemusical #history #art #arthistory #holbein #hausofholbein #mauritshuis #thehague #denhaag #musical #theatre

It's a bit hard to see, but if you look closely, you can see orange apples (oranges) to the left and right of the statue of Mary. That's not for nothing. This painting was made for Frederik Hendrik and Amalia, prince and princess of Orange. Daniël Seghers painted the flowers, Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert the statue of the Virgin. Garland of Flowers surrounding a Sculpture of the Virgin Mary (1645) - Daniel Seghers & Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert #flowers #orange #danielseghers #thomaswilleboirtsbosschaert #mary #artwork #painting #mauritshuis #thehague #museum #art

STORY #3 - Remember last week's painting by Jan Mijtens? This work by Paulus Potter shows another facet of the same tale. In the 18th century, both paintings were looted by the French. 'Cows reflected in the water' fortunately did make it back to The Hague, and is usually on display at our Prince William V Gallery. When French revolutionary troops invaded the Netherlands in 1794, ‘to liberate the people’, William V fled to England, taking only his most prized possessions. The Netherlands was declared a sister republic of France, but in reality the country was occupied. After Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo in 1815, the Netherlands retrieved as much looted art as possible. In 1818, the Netherlands ended efforts to bring home the remaining paintings. King William I designated the Mauritshuis as the destination for the art that did return from France. The empty spaces on the wall of the exhibition symbolize the pieces that never came back. _____ This fall, The Mauritshuis presents ‘Loot – 10 stories’, an immersive exhibition with gripping VR-experiences that dares to address the topics of looted art and restitution. Book your timeslot now through mauritshuis.nl/loot. Guest curators and creative leads: @jongsma_oneill. In partnership with @humboldtforum, @stadtmuseumberlin and @staatlichemuseenzuberlin. Paulus Potter, Cows Reflected in the Water, 1648 #lootedart #loot #art #artlovers #france #thenetherlands #history #thehague #denhaag #exhibition #tentoonstelling #museumkaart #potter #pauluspotter #cows