Historic 17th-century organ shutters by Rembrandt's contemporary find new home in Gelderland
The National Pipe Organ Museum in Elburg has unveiled two rare 17th-century organ shutters painted by David Colijns, a contemporary of Rembrandt. These masterpieces, now on permanent loan, offer visitors a glimpse into the Netherlands' rich ecclesiastical art and organ history.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Artwork | Two 17th-century organ shutters |
| Artist | David Colijns (contemporary of Rembrandt) |
| Origin | Originally part of an organ in the Chapel of the Holy Stede, Amsterdam |
| Year of Creation | 1636 |
| Current Location | National Pipe Organ Museum, Elburg, Gelderland |
| Previous Owner | Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht |
| Unveiled By | King’s Commissioner Daniël Wigboldus |
| Museum Opening Hours | Tuesday to Saturday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
The National Pipe Organ Museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of pipe organs and related ecclesiastical art in the Netherlands. As a national museum, it plays a key role in educating the public about the cultural and historical significance of these artifacts.
Read the full translated article below
National Pipe Organ Museum Acquires 17th-Century Organ Shutters
Thursday, March 26, was a festive day for the National Pipe Organ Museum. King’s Commissioner in the province of Gelderland Daniël Wigboldus unveiled two organ shutters from the early 17th century at the museum. They were painted by David Colijns, a contemporary of Rembrandt. The shutters are considered masterpieces within the collection of ecclesiastical art and organ history in the Netherlands.
About a year and a half ago, the museum was approached by Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht, which asked whether two organ shutters from their depot might be of interest to the Pipe Organ Museum. Wilma Seijbel, director of the Pipe Organ Museum, said, “We immediately said ‘yes,’ because such masterpieces don’t come along every week. But the big question for us was: where can we place them? They are enormous in size, they are not one object but two, and they also need to hang side by side. We’ve had quite a few headaches over this, we had to rearrange a room, but thanks to the architectural background of our conservator and a local contractor, a fantastic solution has been found—and yes, they are now hanging there.”
The organ for which the shutters were made was originally built as a swallow’s nest organ by Jan van Covelen in 1525 for the Chapel of the Holy Stede in Amsterdam. In 1636, the organ was expanded, and at that time, the shutters were added. The shutters were painted by artist David Colijns, a contemporary of Rembrandt. Both worked in Amsterdam and were at the same time members of the famous St. Luke’s Guild, which produced many renowned painters. It is undeniable that they inspired each other. Colijns was about twenty-five years older than Rembrandt, and especially in the early years of Rembrandt’s career, you can see many similarities with Colijns’ work: the expressive faces, the wild hair, the draped clothing, the use of color—it is unmistakably alike.
In 1871, a new organ was installed in the church (which by then was called the New Side Chapel), and the old organ front was moved to the St. Nicholas Church in Jutphaas. The shutters ended up in the collection of Museum Catharijneconvent, which has now loaned them to the National Pipe Organ Museum on a permanent basis.
Wilma Seijbel said, “We feel particularly honored that the Catharijneconvent has entrusted these shutters to us. It is also a recognition of our efforts to be a national museum.”
The organ shutters have been placed in the hall dedicated to organ art from the 17th and 18th centuries, high on the wall, just as a churchgoer from the past would have seen them. Conservator Cor van Kooten said, “If you look closely at the paintings, you’ll notice that the human proportions are a bit odd. For example, the heads are disproportionately large and elongated. From a greater height, everything falls into place because you are looking up from below.”
The King’s Commissioner was willing to unveil the organ shutters, in the presence of the acting mayor of Elburg, Harm-Jan van Schaik. In his speech, the commissioner referred to the fact that, as a 10-year-old boy, he was fascinated by the organ and would sit with the organist during every church service where his father, as a minister, presided.
The shutters are now on display at the museum. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.