Art in the Ambassade Hotel

Classical art

Alongside its collection of modern art, the Ambassade Hotel can also boast a unique collection of paintings and prints from the Netherlands' rich history of fine art. Dating from the 17th Century are an oil painting from the Rembrandt school depicting 'De Aanbidding der Koningen', a portrait of Willem de Zwijger by the famous portrait artist Michiel van Mierevelt and a portrait of poet and playwright Joost van den Vondel from the Dutch School.

Also worthy of mention are the paintings from Belgian artist Paul Jean Clays (1819-1900), Piet Mondriaan's uncle Frédéric (Frits) Mondriaan (1853-1932), Carel Streefkerk (1884-1968), Albertus Verhoesen (1806-1881), Johan Scherrewitz (1868-1951), Lodewijk (Louis) Stutterheim (1873-1943) and Albert Hemelman (1883-1951).

On the subject of prints we must first mention the work published by Pieter Fouquet jr., a Dutch art dealer and publisher who lived from 1729 to 1800. He is noted as the publisher of the so-called "Atlas van Fouquet". This atlas contains 80 prints of Amsterdam and dates from approximately 1775. The Ambassade Hotel owns several prints by Fouquet, of which the four hand-coloured ones hanging in the stairway of Herengracht 337 in particular are very much worth seeing.

Also in the Ambassade Hotel you will come across prints by Jan van der Heyden de Jonge, Johannus Covens & Cornelis Mortier and Hendrik de Leth (1703-1766). A splendid print from the latter, 'Afbeelding van het Stadhuis van Agteren' can be seen in the corridor connecting the houses on the Herengracht side with those on the Singel side. Hendrik de Leth, etcher, engraver and designer, was a pupil and later the successor of his father, Hendrik de Leth senior. He is famous for his many engravings and was also a book dealer, art dealer and a publisher of cards.

Of later date is a collection of etchings by painter Willem Witsen (1860-1923), one of Amsterdam's impressionists. He painted impressive tranquil townscapes, a large number of which can be admired in the rooms of the Ambassade Hotel.