The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Dutch government are under fire from some critics who are upset that the government has put up €150 million toward the €175 million purchase of Rembrandt's painting of a leader in the Dutch War of Independence. Rembrandt used himself as the model.
The deal, which is, adjusted to today's money, the twelfth most expensive purchase ever of a painting, is said to be the most important Rembrandt work still in private hands. The seller is Eric de Rothschild, of the French banking family. Rothschild was also the seller in the 2016 deal that brought a pair of portraits to the Rijksmuseum with a government contribution of €90 million. That sale ranks #8 on the list.
Among the critics who have questioned both price and the need for another Rembrandt are art critic Wieteke van Zell, who pointed out that there was no public discussion about the sale. She said that ‘The national interest of this painting is being taken for granted,’ and said that the sum is ten times the total spending budget of all museums put together. She also suggested that the museum should be spending instead to acquire works of great Dutch female painters of the same period, such as Anny Ruysch and Maria van Oosterwyck.
Others, on social media, said the money could have provided a payment of €1000 to people on social welfare.
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