17 September 2015 - Back to the Rijksmuseum

I am thinking that the sky must soon rain itself dry over Amsterdam!  At the end of summer in Australia, everything is brown and dead and the ground is so parched that often the rain just can't sink in until there is a big down pour.  The suburban gardens are dry and cheerless and only native plants, roses and lavender have survived without diligent watering.  However, here in Holland, it is SO lush and green and always slightly humid.  I do like it and the rain doesn't really bother me.

The kids have nearly completed their term's work for school and officially holidays begin tomorrow after school.  Distance education allows for flexibility so they have a bit more work to do and want to work ahead a bit for next term so that they can finish their curricula prior to returning to Australia.  I am also eager to finish the school year and relinquish my job as teacher.  Being a mother, one never actually stops teaching or learning but it will be great to handball the main tasks to the school teachers again.  Luke finished writing his story which about four animal friends inspired by the animals he has seen recently: a mole, a hedgehog, a pheasant and an English magpie.  He did mention to me that he would like to write a second story with a few more animals so I do hope he follows through with his enthusiasm.  He has learned so much on the way.

Come and join us, Karl!

 Despite the drizzle, Karl, Luke and I set off on the bikes to the Rjiksmusem and the rain stopped just about when we arrived! First stop was the fun fountain in the garden near the Rijksmuseum for the daring water avoidance fun!!

Waiting for the random water....

....and there it was!

 At the Rijksmuseum, I was keen to see the 1800-1900 part which I hadn't seen on my last visit.  There are a few Van Gogh's and a Monet and many other gems and also several statues which Luke particularly liked.  The huge Waterloo painting was well worth looking at with the provided guide to explain the scene.

Napoleon - King of Holland!!

Ain't he handsome?!

Photos from Napoleon's 2nd Light Cavalry

 

The Battle of Waterloo - Pieneman 1824

 Dutch crown Prince William, later King William II can be seen in the front left of the painting being carried on a door after he sustained a shoulder injury.  Napoleon was finally defeated in 1815.  It is a huge painting, the largest in the Rijksmuseum.

David -  Pietro Magni 1851

The Princess of Orange (Mary Stuart) - Scholten 1850-1870

The Music Lesson -  Moritz (1808)

A bookshop - Jelgerhuis 1820

Children of the Sea - Jozef Israels 1870

 Jozef Israels was a Jewish painter from Groningen who rejected his father's wishes to be a businessman and pursued painting.  His son, Isaac, was also a fine painter.  I loved these two cheery summery paintings which are so gentle and relaxed.  The light is perfect!

Donkey rides at the Beach - Isaac Israels  1865-1934

The Damrak Amsterdam- Breitner 1903

 George Hendrik Breitner (1857 - 1923) became known as an Amsterdam Impressionist and indeed his paintings had that appeal: Lovely light, easy to relate to and capturing the moment.  The paintings we saw of his depicted the traditional Dutch houses and buildings.  He captured the cold so well in the painting below.

The Singel Bridge at Amsterdam - Breitner 1895

Undergrowth - Vincent Van Gogh 1887

 Funnily enough, no photos were permitted in the Van Gogh Museum but we were free to photograph anything at the Rijksmuseum, including the Van Gogh's! - so I did.

Self portrait - Vincent Van Gogh 1887

Carafe and dish and fruit - Vincent Van Gogh 1887

Summer Luxuriance - Van Looy 1900

La Corniche near Monaco - Monet 1924

 A Monet - hiding in the corner!!! Like I said there were many gems! It was difficult to see them at leisure as Luke was particularly loud but I did at least feel i got a glimpse at some of the treasures there.

"In the month of July" Gabriel 1889

Meadow with Cows by the Water - Maris 1844-1910

Lombok treasures - most have been returned to Indonesia

Opium sampling display 1894!

Two mothers - a tragic but beautiful statue of a young mother, with her baby carrying the dog's puppies, with two fish to eat, barefoot and tatty - poverty.

 Luke was very keen to get back to the special exhibition on model ships.  The details and craftsmanship were impressive - everything in exquisite detail and perfectly proportioned.  

Models of boats/ships

The details were astonishing

Miniatures in silver - perfect!

When we got back to the bikes, my lock had been tampered with and I couldn't put the key in.  Fortunately, Karl had bought an extra lock to put around all our bikes which we use diligently as we have been warned about bike theft.  We were cross at the fact that the lock had been broken but relieved that our transport home was still available!  For the first time in a few days, we arrived home dry and didn't have to peel off our wet clothes and put our shoes on the heater!  And the sky stayed clear of grey clouds and we had a lovely pink sunset over the Amstel to finish the day.