Foreword – Chris Stolwijk
The RKD is most pleased to present to you the online publication Dulwich Picture Gallery I & II, a revised, scholarly annotated edition of the comprehensive catalogue published in 2016 by Ellinoor Bergvelt and Michiel Jonker. Dulwich Picture Gallery I & II is the latest issue of the RKD’s completely renewed online series RKD Studies. It features 228 Dutch and Flemish paintings (as well as a few British and German works) from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century from the eminent collection at Dulwich Picture Gallery, the first purpose-built art gallery in England.
In addition to 170 paintings from the so-called Desenfans and Bourgeois bequest, this catalogue also describes more than 50 works from bequests by other collectors. It is preceded by an essay outlining the evolution of the impressive Dulwich Picture Gallery collection and followed by detailed information about the artists and paintings.
Dulwich Picture Gallery I & II was written and compiled by the late Michiel Jonker (1947-2014), former Head of Collections at the Mauritshuis, and Ellinoor Bergvelt (1947), Guest Researcher at the University of Amsterdam, Associate Researcher at the RKD and Research Fellow at Dulwich Picture Gallery. The RKD thanks them warmheartedly for their efforts and support over the years in realizing this publication. Dulwich Picture Gallery I & II was not made possible without the care of Emily Lane (editor), and the following colleagues of the RKD: Sabine Craft-Giepmans (Head of Research & Development), Rieke van Leeuwen (Senior Curator) and Ineke Goudswaard (volunteer).
Dulwich Picture Gallery I & II is part of the RKD’s Gerson Digital project.
Prof. dr. Chris Stolwijk
General Director RKD
The Hague, March 2021