Press release - 16 October 2014 08:02

Major loan of Roslin works to Rijksmuseum Twenthe

Nationalmuseum has made a major loan of works to the Alexander Roslin exhibition at Rijksmuseum Twenthe in the Netherlands, which opens on 18 October. The loan comprises 16 well-known portraits, including The Lady with the Veil, Zoie Ghika and John Jennings Esq., his Brother and Sister-in-Law. This is the first-ever exhibition in the Netherlands devoted to Alexander Roslin and his works.

Alexander Roslin is the latest beneficiary of Nationalmuseum’s drive to promote Swedish art history around the world, which has already seen the first-ever exhibitions devoted to Anders Zorn in the United States, Carl Larsson in France and, most recently, Pehr Hilleström in Finland. The exhibition, entitled Alexander Roslin (1718–93) – Portraitist of the Aristocracy, opens on 18 October at Rijksmuseum Twenthe in Enschede in the Netherlands. Nationalmuseum has contributed 16 of its best-known works by the much-loved 18th-century artist. The portraits on loan include The Lady with the Veil, Zoie Ghika, John Jennings Esq., his Brother and Sister-in-Law, and Gustav III. The exhibition also features several self-portraits and portraits of Roslin’s wife Marie Suzanne Giroust from Nationalmuseum’s collections.

The exhibition provides a snapshot of a turbulent period in history. During the second half of the 18th century, Roslin made his name as a portraitist by travelling around Europe painting kings, queens and members of the aristocracy. Roslin’s portraits are personal documents from an era marked by unbridled power, extreme poverty, great beauty and widespread cruelty. This is the first-ever exhibition in the Netherlands devoted to Roslin and his works, featuring a total of over 30 pieces from various collections around the world.

With the Nationalmuseum building closed for renovation until 2017, the museum is able to loan out artworks from its collections to a greater extent than usual, both within Sweden and worldwide. Nationalmuseum’s Alexander Roslin exhibition in the autumn of 2007 proved hugely popular.

Alexander Roslin (1718–93) – Portraitist of the Aristocracy is on show at Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Enschede, the Netherlands, from 18 October 2014 to 12 April 2015. More information at www.rijksmuseumtwenthe.nl.

Media contacts
Karin Jongenelen, Marketing & Communication, Rijksmuseum Twenthe, kjongenelen@rijksmuseumtwenthe.nl, +31 6 2220 4544
Hanna Tottmar, Press Officer, Nationalmuseum, hanna.tottmar@nationalmuseum.se, +46 767 234632

Caption
Alexander Roslin, John Jennings Esq., his Brother and Sister-in-Law. Photo: Erik Cornelius/Nationalmuseum.

Nationalmuseum is Sweden’s premier museum of art and design. The collections comprise older paintings, sculpture, drawings and graphic art, and applied art and design up to the present day. The museum building is currently under renovation and scheduled to open again in 2017. In the meantime, the museum will continue its activities through collaborations, touring exhibitions and a temporary venue at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts, Fredsgatan 12, Stockholm. Nationalmuseum collaborates with Svenska Dagbladet, FCB Fältman & Malmén and Grand Hôtel Stockholm. For more information visit www.nationalmuseum.se.

Welcome to Nationalmuseum Sweden!

Nationalmuseum is Sweden’s museum of art and design. The collections include paintings, sculpture, drawings and graphic art from the 16th century up to the beginning of the 20th century and the collection of applied art and design up to the present day. The total amount of objects is around 700,000. .

The emphasis of the collection of paintings is on Swedish 18th and 19th century painting. Dutch painting from the 17th century is also well represented, and the French 18th century collection is regarded as one of the best in the world. The works are made by artists such as Rembrandt, Rubens, Goya, Boucher, Watteau, Renoir and Degas as well as Swedish artists such as Anders Zorn, Carl Larsson, Ernst Josephson and Carl Fredrik Hill.

The collection of applied art and design consists of objects such as ceramics, textiles, glass and precious and non-precious metals as well as furniture and books etc. The collection of prints and drawings comprises works by Rembrandt, Watteau, Manet, Sergel, Carl Larsson, Carl Fredrik Hill and Ernst Josephson. Central are the 2,000 master drawings that Carl Gustaf Tessin acquired during his tour of duty as Sweden's ambassador to France in the 18th century.

Art and objects from Nationalmuseum’s collections can also be seen at several royal palaces such as Gripsholm, Drottningholm, Strömsholm, Rosersberg and Ulriksdal as well as in the Swedish Institute in Paris. The museum administers the Swedish National Portrait Gallery at Gripsholm Castle, the world’s oldest national portrait gallery and the Gustavsberg collection with approximately 45,000 objects manufactured at the Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory. Nationalmuseum also curates exhibitions at Nationalmuseum Jamtli and the Gustavsberg Porcelain Museum.

Nationalmuseum is a government authority with a mandate to preserve cultural heritage and promote art, interest in art and knowledge of art and that falls within the remit of the Swedish Ministry of Culture.

Major loan of Roslin works to Rijksmuseum Twenthe

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Welcome to Nationalmuseum Sweden!