Art and Life in Rembrandt’s Time brings world-renowned Collection to the Norton

Rembrandt’s Portrait of a Man in a Red Coat is known for his mastery of light and texture. [Photo by Norton Museum of Art]

The Norton Museum of Art invites visitors on a journey through time and brushstroke, unveiling a much anticipated exhibition. Art and Life in Rembrandt’s Time: Masterpieces from The Leiden Collection opens Oct. 25, and runs through Mar. 29, bringing to West Palm Beach more than 70 paintings by 27 artists from one of the world’s premier private collections of 17th-century Dutch art.

This showcase marks the largest exhibition of privately held Dutch Golden Age paintings in the United States and the first of its kind in Florida. Presented in honor of the 400th anniversary of the Dutch founding of New Amsterdam (present-day Manhattan), the exhibition celebrates art’s enduring ability to reveal the human spirit.

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At the heart of the exhibition lies the genius of Rembrandt van Rijn, whose ability to portray emotion, light, and humanity transformed the trajectory of Western art. Seventeen of Rembrandt’s paintings will be on view, spanning his full career from the delicate realism of his early portraits to the deeply introspective power of his mature works.

“These artists had an uncanny ability to tap into the continuity of human experience, which makes them continually relevant—even in very different times,” said Elizabeth Nogrady, Curator of The Leiden Collection.

Art and Life in Rembrandt’s Time also showcases works by Rembrandt’s teacher Pieter Lastman, and talented students Ferdinand Bol, Govaert Flinck, and Arent de Gelder, alongside contemporaries like Frans Hals, Hendrick ter Brugghen, and Gerard ter Borch.

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Visitors can expect to see glimpses of domestic life that capture the vibrancy of 17th-century Dutch society. Standouts include Jan Lievens’ Boy in a Cape and Turban (circa 1631), Gabriel Metsu’s Woman Selling Game from a Stall (1653–1654), and Jan Steen’s Self-Portrait with a Lute (1664). 

With more than 220 paintings, The Leiden Collection, assembled by philanthropists Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan and Daphne Recanati Kaplan, is among the most comprehensive private holdings of Dutch Golden Age art. The Collection has previously been featured at the Louvre, the Hermitage Museum, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, but its arrival at the Norton marks its American premiere.

“After nearly 15 years of lending to museums around the globe, we are thrilled to share Rembrandt and Vermeer with my home state of Florida,” said Thomas Kaplan. “We hope visitors will be as moved as we are by the enduring power of Rembrandt, his students, and his peers.”

The Norton will complement the exhibition with public programming designed to engage and inspire visitors of all ages including lectures, performances, and family events that bring Dutch art to life. An illustrated 150-page catalogue will accompany the show, offering scholarly essays and detailed entries on each masterpiece.

Whether you’re an art lover, history enthusiast, or simply seeking inspiration, Art and Life in Rembrandt’s Time offers a rare chance to experience the genius of Rembrandt right here in Palm Beach County. See it at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, or visit norton.org.