TEFAF Maastricht 2019

TEFAF Maastricht 2019
16.03.2019 - 24.03.2019

TEFAF MAASTRICHT TO HOST HIGHLIGHTS FROM STAATLICHE KUNSTSAMMLUNGEN DRESDEN IN ANTICIPATION OF MUSEUM OPENINGS IN 2019

TEFAF will host 23 highlights from both the Paraderäume (State Apartments) of Dresden’s Residenzschloss (Royal Palace) and the Semperbau (Semper Building), home to the Gemäldegalerie (Old Masters Picture Gallery) and Skulpturensammlung (Sculpture Collection) all of which form part of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (Dresden State Art Collections), in the loan exhibition hosted within TEFAF Paper at TEFAF Maastricht 2019. The exhibition will be a prelude to both the opening of the Paraderäume in September 2019 and the reopening of the Semperbau in December 2019 and will provide visitors with an extraordinary opportunity to see works such as ‘The Abduction of Ganymede’, 1635, by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606 – 1669) before they go on permanent display in Dresden. TEFAF Maastricht, the world’s leading fine art and antiques Fair, takes place from 16 - 24 March 2019 at the MECC (Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre), Maastricht, The Netherlands.

The opening of the Paraderäume in September 2019 will be the culmination of an extensive restoration and refurbishment project at Dresden’s Royal Palace. In 1997, the Saxon State Government decided to recreate the Paraderäume, the suite of rooms opened by August the Strong 300 years ago in September 1719, which had been destroyed in the war. Outstanding pieces of textiles, porcelain and furniture from the Rüstkammer (Armoury Chamber), Porzellansammlung (Porcelain Collection) and the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts) will illustrate the renewed splendour of the Saxon Court within the Paraderäume.

In addition, following years of reconstruction and refurbishment, the Semperbau will reopen in December 2019. The Semperbau houses world famous paintings and sculptures, and these works will now be shown in a new setting, emphasising the unique status and significance of their artists. The design concept of the space follows the principle of hanging paintings according to geographical origin and school and will highlight important themes within each period. The space will also highlight the mutual influences of painting and sculpture, underlining the importance of antique sculpture for Renaissance and Baroque painting.

Highlights from the 23 objects to go on display at TEFAF Maastricht include the Crown of August the Strong, Elector of Saxony, King of Poland, created in 1697 (from the Rüstkammer); a rare series of five Meissen vases, four depicting the elements and one centre vase bearing the coat of arms and portrait of Ludwig XV, created by Johann Joachim Kändler (from the Porzellansammlung); the extraordinary painting The Abduction of Ganymede, 1635, by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606 – 1669) (from the Gemäldegalerie); and an exquisite sculpture, Apollo and Daphne, after Bernini, which dates c.1700 (from the Skulpturensammlung).

“At this year’s TEFAF Maastricht, exclusive highlights from the Dresden State Art Collections will be presented. We aim at giving an impression of masterpieces from our collections and exhibition rooms we will reopen in 2019. Artworks of the Rüstkammer, the Kunstgewerbemuseum, the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, the Skulpturensammlung as well as the Porzellansammlung will be presented to a broad public and expert audience, a sneak preview even before the reopenings. Especially the completion of the royal castle is truly a European project, including the research of material cultures as well as the recovering of traditional craftsmanship all over Europe. We are excited to be present at TEFAF Maastricht, as it is one of the finest art fairs worldwide,” said the Director General of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (Dresden State Art Collections) Prof. Dr. Marion Ackermann.