National Gallery Prague holds the long-awaited exhibition Rembrandt: Portrait of a Man whose opening was moved from this spring to September 25. It is an extensive exhibition project presenting over 110 artworks from renowned local and foreign institutions and private collections as well as the only Rembrandt’s painting in the Czech Republic, Scholar in His Study, currently exhibited in the Schwarzenberg Palace as part of the Old Masters permanent exhibition.
The central piece of the exhibition is the portrait of Scholar in His Study from the NGP’s collections dated 1634 which was a period full of success in Rembrandt’s both professional and private lives. “The exhibition will try to clarify the inner life captured in the expression of the portrayed man, whether it was an unknown man or Rembrandt himself, through other Rembrandt’s works as well as works of his contemporaries and followers (Jan Lievens, Gerrit Dou, Ferdinand Bol, Govaert Flinck or Christopher Paudiss),” says the curator Lucie Němečková.
Learning about Rembrandt’s creation can never do without his graphics and drawings, as Rembrandt devoted the same intensity and creativity to graphics as to his paintings. That is why his works on paper are given as much attention as works on canvas. The exhibition epilogue will then offer modern understanding of Rembrandt’s work in the art of leading modern artists. Their interpretation of the Prague’s Scholar in His Study shows that Rembrandt’s work remains a source of inspiration even more than 350 years after his death.
Due to the current situation and measures related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the exhibition could not be opened on the originally planned date. The concept of the project could be eventually preserved thanks to extraordinary helpfulness and long negotiations. Due to the changed dates, certain adjustments had to be made as some of the originally planned works could not be brought to Prague. Visitors, however, will not be deprived of any experiences. The new dates allowed us to secure other, similarly extraordinary works from world collections.
The project was created in cooperation with Wallraf-Richartz-Museum & Fondation Corboud in Cologne. The exhibition will be held in the Kinsky Palace located in the very heart of Prague in the Old Town Square. The exhibition will be opened for public on September 25 and will last until January 31, 2021. It will be accompanied by a representative catalogue and a rich offer of public and educational programmes.
