Harn to open exhibit of Rembrandt prints Feb. 5

January 4, 2013

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida will feature more than 70 prints by Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn and 20 of his contemporaries created between the 16th and 17th centuries. Selected works on view, from Feb. 5 to April 28, depict landscape, genre and maritime subjects, and a refashioning of portraiture and biblical and mythological narratives.

Among the highlights of the exhibition are etchings by Rembrandt (1606-1669) who was a master of light and shadow whose paintings, drawings and prints have placed him among the greatest creative talents of all time. The exhibition will feature nine of his prints alongside etchings and engravings by his Dutch contemporaries including Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617), Jan Dirkszoon Both (c.1618-1652), Jacob van Ruisdael (1628-1682), Esaias van de Velde (c. 1591-1630) and Jan van de Velde II (c. 1593-1641), among other artists.

“Printmaking in the Age of Rembrandt” is organized by the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, N.H., and the prints in this exhibition are drawn from the Currier’s permanent collection.

The Harn Museum will broaden the scope of the original exhibition by adding 37 prints drawn from the collections of the Currier Museum of Art and the Harn Museum. These represent 16th and 17th-century artists from Germany, Flanders, France, Italy and Switzerland. These selections expand the range of artists and countries represented in the original exhibition and illustrate the use of similar themes and techniques by artists outside the Dutch Republic. Special highlights include prints by Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471-1526), Theodor de Bry (Franco-Flemish, 1528–1598), Agostino Carracci (Italian, 1557-1602), Jacques Callot (French, c. 1592-c. 1635), Anthony van Dyck (Flemish, 1599-1641) and Salvator Rosa (Italian, 1615-1673).

Seventeenth-century Dutch paintings, books and maps will also be on display and will further illustrate overlapping themes and motifs in other media of the period. The books and maps are on loan from the University of Florida’s George A. Smathers Libraries while the paintings are on loan from The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, and Appleton Museum of Art.

Admission is free. This exhibition is made possible locally by the Harn Program Endowment and the Eloise R. Chandler Program Endowment, with additional support from the Margaret J. Early Program Endowment.

The museum is offering a number of related programs for audiences of all ages.

Gallery Talk, Feb. 10, 3 p.m.
Elizabeth Ross, assistant professor of art history at UF, will discuss “Death, Darkness, and a Little Bit of Adultery” through prints that feature a range of themes and moods including war and death, nighttime and the transgressive passions of the gods.

Spring Educator Workshop, Feb. 20, 1:30–4:30 p.m.
Educators may learn about the exhibition and receive new resources for their classroom. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. Registration is limited to 30. Registration may occur through the Alachua County School professional development website or, if not with ACS, contact Lisa Stevens at 352-392-9826, ext. 2112 or at lstevens@harn.ufl.edu.

Member pARTy, Feb. 28, 6–8:30 p.m.
Become a member and enjoy a pARTy celebrating the opening. There will be an opportunity to join at the door. Visit the membership section of the Harn’s website at www.harn.ufl.edu/membership for a list of benefits and information about joining.

Museum Nights, March 14, 6–9 p.m.
This Museum Nights evening is a joint collaboration between the Harn Museum and the UF Center for European Studies. Performances, art activities and tours centered around the exhibition will be offered. For updates on Museum Nights activities visit www.harn.ufl.edu/museumnights

Gallery Talk, April 7, 3 p.m.
Dulce Roman, curator of modern art, will discuss a selection of her favorite works in the exhibition.

Adult Class, April 20, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.“Learn to Make Arrangements from Foliage in your Yard”
In connection with the landscape prints on view in the exhibition, the Harn Museum and the Gainesville Garden Club are offering an adult class to learn foliage arrangement techniques. There is limited seating and registration is required. Class fee is $18 per person and includes vase and greenery. To register or for more information call 392-9826 x 2112.

Family Day, April 20, 1–4 p.m.
Celebrate Earth Day at the Harn. Take a family friendly tour of “Printmaking in the Age of Rembrandt” and then make a print of foliage arrangements. The foliage arrangements were created by adults in a morning class offered at the museum. This program is a collaboration with the Gainesville Garden Club. A donation of $5 per family or $2 per child is requested if participating in the art activity. Admission, the exhibition tour and parking are free.

The Harn Museum, at Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road in Gainesville, is part of the University of Florida’s Cultural Plaza, which is also home to the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Admission is free.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The museum is open until 9 p.m. the second Thursday of every month for Museum Nights. The Camellia Court Café is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information call 352-392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu.