Sotheby's Auction of Drawings & Silver from the Collection of the Dutch RF: Feb 2019

[An Ard Ri]

It will be interesting to see how much it actually sells for and I guess the higher the price we will see more criticism of the sale!

[Duc_et_Pair]

The drawings and artefacts have been sold for almost 11 million US Dollar

Out of the question that a Dutch museum would have paid that. It seems the Rubens drawing was acquired in 1838 by the then Prince of Orange (later King Willem II) from a London-based art dealer whom was selling the heritage of Sir Thomas Lawrence.

It was purchased when Willem had no income from the State and it was also acquired for just a fraction of today's price. So indeed private property from the royal family since 1838. It is Princess Christina, the fourth and youngest daughter of Queen Juliana whom sold it. The princess has never had an income or pension, her inheritance from her parents forms her private wealth.

https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-me...oper~b9d180cb/

[Marengo]

In addition to the above I have read that the drawing was sold with the other art items after the death of King Willem II. But it was returned to the family as a present afterwards.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Marengo

In addition to the above I have read that the drawing was sold with the other art items after the death of King Willem II. But it was returned turn the family as a present afterwards.

And then there is this news nonsense channel here in NL this evening that claimed that "A dutch Princess sold a drawing for 8 million euro payed for by our tax money"...Infuriating lies!!!Lies lies lies!Freedom of speech is one thing,abuse another and should be dealed with appropriatly.

Glad the auction was such a success!!

[Dalriada]

According to PM Rutte its all a private affair but whatever way you look at it, it doesn’t sit well for an art loving country.

[Susan D]

If an item is given as a wedding present by diplomats, it ought to stay with the Monarchy; if an item is owned privately, it's none of our business.

[Somebody]

According to NOS the auction of the drawing resulted in a little more than 7 or 8 million dollar (somehow they mix up the numbers). The other stuff added about another 1-2 million. So, much more than expected.

The buyer is probably Leon Black. The expectation is that, in that case, it will end up in the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York at some point. Three Dutch musea also participated (jointly it seems) in the auction but apparently didn't offer enough to get the piece.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Susan D

If an item is given as a wedding present by diplomats, it ought to stay with the Monarchy; if an item is owned privately, it's none of our business.

A wedding gift to Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard in 1936 is a wedding gift. It is the royal family itself which has established the policy that gifts are not sold.

So they were right with tagging the René Lalique glassware present as private property of the late Queen Juliana. But as it was once a gift, a second tag had to be added: "Not to be sold". That is the own policy of the royal family itself. There is no any requirement or legal regulation which says that gifts can not be sold. Look at e-Bay the day after Christmas: gifts everywhere put up for sale.

As generations advance (what have the Guillermos, the Ten Cates, the Van Vollenhovens and the Brenninkmeijers to do with once a gift to their great-grandmother or great-great-grandfather?) the restraint to sell items will be lesser and lesser. To prevent gifts to be sold, the royal family has set up a Foundation to preserve gifts. When this foundation would ever to be dissolved, these gifts go to the heirs of the late Queen Juliana.

The Royal House (not the same as the royal family) has set up another foundation, for gifts to the King in the framework of State Visits or Official Visits. When that foundation is dissolved, these gifts go to the State.

[maria-olivia]

In December I visited the Leonardo da Vinci Tekeningen at the Teylers Museum in Haarlem. Item 34 : Anoniem "centrale deel van de slag bij Anghiari" HRH Princess Christina.
The Dutch Museums knew which drawings the Princess was the owner.

I expected more for a Rubens Drawing because it was made by himself.

[ladongas]

Although this isn’t precisely related to this topic, it does give a view on how much of Dutch art is protected and preserved for the nation and for generations to come.

And it is fascinating! Please give it a read.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/27/m...mes%20Magazine