Gemäldegalerie

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Olfert de Vrij, Three-Master on Lightly Moving Seas, 1665, after restoration
Olfert de Vrij, Three-Master on Lightly Moving Seas, 1665, after restoration © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie
Olfert de Vrij, Three-Master on Lightly Moving Seas, 1665, after restoration ©
Olfert de Vrij, Three-Master on Lightly Moving Seas, 1665, after restoration © © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie
Olfert de Vrij, Three-Master on Lightly Moving Seas, 1665, after restoration
Olfert de Vrij, Three-Master on Lightly Moving Seas, 1665, after restoration © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie
Olfert de Vrij, Three-Master on Lightly Moving Seas, 1665, map of overpainted sections (pink)
Olfert de Vrij, Three-Master on Lightly Moving Seas, 1665, map of overpainted sections (pink) © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie
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Olfert de Vrij’: “Three-Master on Lightly Moving Seas”

Analysis, Restoration, Contextualisation

This research project focused on the painting Three-Master on Lightly Moving Seas, which was originally created for the Great Elector of Brandenburg using the technique known as “penschilderijen” (pen paintings). The goal of the project was not only to carry out a detailed analysis of the object as well as comprehensive conservation and restoration work, but also to uncover more information about the unusual context in which the painting was commissioned and produced, so as to gain a better understanding of its art-historical significance.

Due to its poor condition, the work had not been accessible to the public for some 170 years. The picture’s unusual painting technique along with alterations that had occurred due to the effects of aging and historical restoration work made the conservation and restoration process exceedingly complex and time-consuming. After this extensive process, which took some twelve years, work began on the art-historical investigation of the painting and its position within the broader historical context. This was the first time a painting by Olfert de Vrij (1635–99), previously a largely unknown lawyer and marine painting specialist from Hoorn, has been the focus of a scholarly investigation.     

  • Theresia Schmitt: “Sehnsucht nach Seemacht: Der Große Kurfürst versuchte einst, in den Überseehandel einzusteigen; Von seinen Ambitionen zeugt ein frisch restauriertes Marinebild in der Gemäldegalerie”, in: Museumsjournal 1 (2023), pp. 90–92.
  • Katja Kleinert (ed.): “Vision Seemacht: Ein Marinestück für den Großen Kurfürsten; Restaurierung, Technik, Kontext” (Schiff und Zeit – Panorama Maritim, supplement 4 of the Gesellschaft für Schifffahrts- und Marinegeschichte e.V.), Berlin 2023.
  • Katja Kleinert (Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin), Margaux Shraiman (Universiteit Utrecht): “Gemalte Ambitionen – der Große Kurfürst, die Seefahrt und ein erstaunliches Marinestück”, part of the lecture series accompanying the exhibition Vision of Naval Might, Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche  Museen zu Berlin, 26 January 2023
  • Babette Hartwieg (Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche  Museen zu Berlin), Maria Zielke (Kulturstiftung Dessau-Wörlitz): “Olfert de Vrijs Marinebild von 1665: Maltechnik und Restaurierung”, part of the lecture series accompanying the exhibition Vision of Naval Might, Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche  Museen zu Berlin, 26 January 2023
  • Thomas Eisentraut (Verkehrsmuseum, Dresden): “Hart am Wind – Die Niederländer & das maritime ‘Goldene Zeitalter’”, part of the lecture series accompanying the exhibition Vision of Naval Might, Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche  Museen zu Berlin, 23 February 2023
  • Marko Richter (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Schifffahrts- und Marinegeschichte e.V.): “Wunsch und Wirklichkeit – brandenburgische Schiffe auf Gemälden”, part of the lecture series accompanying the exhibition Vision of Naval Might, Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche  Museen zu Berlin, 23 February 2023
  • Jürgen Luh (Research Center Sanssouci, Potsdam): “Kurfürst – Flotte – Kolonie”, part of the lecture series accompanying the exhibition Vision of Naval Might, Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche  Museen zu Berlin, 23 March 2023
  • Johannes Eberhardt (Münzkabinett, Staatliche  Museen zu Berlin): “Guineadukaten im Kontext”, part of the lecture series accompanying the exhibition Vision of Naval Might, Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche  Museen zu Berlin, 23 March 2023

Objectives and outcomes: Restoration of, and research into, the painting by Olfert de Vrijs, along with a scholarly special presentation on the painting
Project overseen by: Gemäldegalerie Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Lead researchers: Dr Babette Hartwieg (head of conservation at the Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin), Dr Katja Kleinert (collection manager for Dutch and Flemish 17th-century painting at the Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin)
Project team: Maria Reimelt (former paintings conservator at the Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin), Maria Zielke (former paintings conservator at the Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin), Bertram Lorenz (wood restorer at the Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin), Theresia Schmitt (former curatorial assistant at the Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin)
Project duration: 2009 to 2023

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