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The Alte Pinakothek uncovers “uncomfortable” details in a painting by Van Ruysdael
From 9 May to 17 September 2023, the Alte Pinakothek in Munich presents “Fantasy and reality – Salomon van Ruysdael’s Utrecht ‘Plompetoren’“.
Image: Salomon van Ruysdael, “Landscape with Utrecht’s ‘Plompetoren‘”, c. 1660. Oil on panel, 66,2 x 80,7 cm
It is relatively common for the restoration of a painting, especially one by an old master, to reveal details that were previously hidden or overlooked. In the case of “Landscape with Utrecht’s ‘Plompetoren‘” by Salomon van Ruysdael, the Alte Pinakothek reveals that some of these details are, a priori, quite striking in an apparently idyllic scene such as this landscape.
On the exhibition page, the Alte Pinakothek explains:
“Recently restored, unexpected even somewhat bawdy details have now been brought to light in Salomon van Ruysdael’s view of Utrecht’s ‘Plompetoren’: two cattle copulating in the shade of the trees as well as a man urinating against the city wall. Dutch painting of the 17th century did not shy away from depicting such everyday motifs. Nevertheless, is this painting really a realistic picture of a moment frozen in time? The contemporary viewer would have doubted that immediately as van Ruysdael placed the city of Utrecht’s medieval fortified tower in an idyllic, rural setting. In reality, however, the ‘Plompetoren’, built in the 12th century, formed part of the city’s fortifications that had a total of 13 towers.”
The painting of Van Ruysdael -one of the leading landscape painters of the Dutch Golden Age- will be the protagonist of this edition of “ALL EYES ONE”, a series of exhibitions highlighting “a work or group of works, a significant artist personality or artistic position, guest appearances by individual loans, important restorations, or new acquisitions” related to the Alte Pinakothek.
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