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.
A 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 A 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 A Diary of Things.
