Origins and history of the collection
The Mesdag Collection is located in The Hague, Netherlands. It was assembled by the artist Hendrik Willem Mesdag and his wife, Sientje Mesdag-van Houten, who was also an artist. Their shared interest in art led to the accumulation of a diverse range of paintings, drawings, and applied arts. Hendrik Willem Mesdag was a seascape painter and a member of the Hague School movement.
The couple established the collection within a building constructed next to their home. In 1903, Mesdag donated the collection to the Dutch state. This act ensured the preservation of the works for public access. Since 1990, The Mesdag Collection has been administered as part of The Van Gogh Museum Foundation.
Major collections and artistic movements
The collection contains one of the largest and most significant groupings of French Barbizon School works outside of France. These paintings, along with various studies and sketches in oils, reflect the influence of the movement on the Dutch landscape tradition. The museum also holds an extensive assembly of Hague School paintings, watercolours, and drawings. These Hague School artists favored a realistic approach, utilizing broad brushes to capture their subjects. Their work typically prioritizes the depiction of nature over townscapes, focusing on the intimate rather than the frivolous.
Beyond European painting, the collection includes Japanese decorative art and ceramics. This interest in the Far East is reflected in the presence of various objects, including two vases inspired by a Japanese sake bottle by Theodoor Colenbrander. These pieces demonstrate how the aesthetic of the period interacted with local craftsmanship.
Masterpieces and notable works
The collection contains significant works by several French Barbizon School artists, including Corot, Daubigny, Diaz, Courbet, Breton, and Jacque, as well as Dupré. These paintings reflect the movement's focus on nature and the landscape. Hendrik Willem Mesdag contributed many of his own works to the collection, particularly his seascapes and depictions of the fishermen in Scheveningen. His 360-degree panoramic view of Scheveningen, located at Panorama Mesdag, provides a large-scale perspective of the coastal life he observed.
Beyond traditional oil paintings, the collection includes applied arts that reflect the influence of Japanese aesthetics. This interest is visible in two vases designed by Theo Colenbrander, which were inspired by a Japanese sake bottle. These objects demonstrate the intersection of European craftsmanship and Far Eastern form that characterized the era.
- Hanging roe deer, about 1858 - Gustave Courbet
- By the lake, 1861 - Gustave Courbet
- Still life, 1863 - Jean-François Millet
- Moonlight, 1875 - Charles-François Daubigny
- The choirboy, 1872 - Antonio Mancini
- Portrait of Sientje Mesdag- van Houten, 1906 - Jozef Israëls
Exhibitions and special displays
The museum presents various thematic exhibitions that highlight specific facets of the collection. The exhibition 'Whistler. Loving the Netherlands' features works by James McNeill Whistler, including etchings, watercolours, and small-scale paintings created during his time in the Netherlands. At Museum Panorama Mesdag, the 'Trendsetters of the 19th century' exhibition displays works from the collection alongside special acquisitions and loans from private individuals.
The influence of Japanese art is examined in the exhibition Mesdag & Japan: Collecting the Far East. This display focuses on the collection of Japanese decorative art and ceramics amassed by Hendrik Willem Mesdag, including items such as samurai swords, bronze vases, and bowls. The exhibition explores how the fascination with Japan during the 19th century shaped the artistic landscape of The Hague.
Special displays also include the painting 'Egyptian Indigo Dyers' by John Singer Sargent. This work is the only painting by the artist held in a Dutch public collection. It has recently returned to display following technical examination and restoration.