Editor's Note: We attended the traveling exhibit at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco three times, once with our grandchildren; now we hope to visit the refurbished museum in The Hague. Val Castronovo reviewed the exhibit for SeniorWomen.com during its visit to New York City's Frick Museum.  And, do not forget to visit the Museum's Shop.

The scaffolding around the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis has come down, revealing that the Mauritshuis changed color.

The woodwork and masonry of the building’s façades have been repainted and the windows have been replaced. The exterior of the listed monument now looks much closer to its original design of 1644, created by the 17th-century architect Jacob van Campen (1596-1657).

The reason for the renovation is the museum’s building project, which links the city palace to the building across the street at Plein 26 by means of an underground foyer. Changes to the exterior of the building are intended to return as far as possible to Van Campen’s original design, all based on research into the architectural history of the building.

The exterior of the Mauritshuis has been renovated several times since it was finished in 1644. The first time was during the period 1705-1718, after the entire interior was gutted by fire in December 1704. Further renovations took place in the 19th century and 1950, and another extensive project was undertaken in 1982-1997.

The entrance has been moved to the front courtyard, restoring the stately appearance of the Mauritshuis that befits its international allure. The surface area of the entire museum is doubled, creating more space for art, exhibitions, education and events. The renovated premises will be reopened on June 27, 2014.

During the renovation of the Mauritshuis, much of the collection was on display in museums in the Netherlands and abroad. More than 100 highlights from the collection were on view in their own dedicated wing of the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag and a number of paintings, including Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, toured museums in Japan, the United States and Italy.

Photographer: Ivo Hoekstra
Credits: Mauritshuis, The Hague

Mauritshuis through the ages

Pretty Girl: Girl with a Pearl Earring makes a stop at The Frick in New York, the last leg of its American tour

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