Two Rotterdam paintings with two contrasting stories are central to this exhibition. We know the complete history of Diana and Callisto (1704) by Adriaen van der Werff: who commissioned it, who owned it and how it ended up in our museum. Abraham Hondius' The Wild Boar Hunt (1672), on the other hand, remains a mystery. We do not know where the painting was before 1865. This contrast shows what provenance research can reveal – and what will remain unknown forever.
Diary of Things
How do artworks end up in a museum? Where did they come from, where were they previously displayed, and how did people view them back then? From 21 March, you can discover in Diary of Things that artworks lead a life of their own – sometimes quiet, sometimes full of change – before ending up in Rotterdam.
21 March 2026 up to and including 20 September 2026
Depot
Tuesday - Sunday
11 AM - 5 PM
Location:
- Gallery I, 3rd floor
In the exhibition, thematic side trips allow you to discover other artworks from the collection, each with a history as eventful as that of the two main works. They were donated, sold, cut up, stolen or discarded without a second glance. Together, they form the surprising Diary of Things.
