Adriaan de Lelie and the 18th century family portrait

From 17 October 2014 Museum Van Loon will show works by Adriaan de Lelie (1755-1820). It is the first time that so much of the De Lelie’s œuvre will be on view to the public.

Most of the paintings are from private collections. Next to paintings by De Lelie family portraits by famous contemporaries like Tischbein, Regters, Laquy and Quinkhard are on display. The thirty paintings on show give a perfect reflection of family bliss and the lavish interior of the 18th century.

Although little has been published about De Lelie he is without doubt one of the most important portrait painters of his time. He was born in Tilburg and after having studied in Antwerp and Düsseldorf he settled in Amsterdam where he quickly integrated in the upper classes.  With his keen eye for detail, refined palette and smooth hand he was a successful portraitist. Governors, bankers, notaries, officers, professors and wealthy merchants had themselves painted by him. Thus De Lelie literally gave face to the Amsterdam on the turn of the century.

As a family home Museum Van Loon is thé place for showing family portraits. With this exhibition it intends to disclose its own 18th century collection of paintings and to offer the public the unique opportunity to view the oeuvre of De Lelie and his contemporaries in the house of one of his large commissioners. For visitors the historic perspective is strengthened by the connection between the paintings, furniture, tapestry and carpets in the rooms as one will see one’s  immediate surroundings in the museum reflected in the 18^th century interiors on the paintings.

A richly illustrated and informative book by will be published Wbooks to commemorate this remarkable exhibition.