The Bibliothèque Nationale de France holds a treasure trove of Northern graphic art. Tracing its origins to the 1667 acquisition of the Marolles collection, the department of Prints and Photography now preserves over fifteen million images. This overview explores its Dutch and Flemish holdings, highlighting prestigious bequests and the unique system of legal deposit that has enriched the collection for centuries.

“The Bibliothèque nationale de France is one of the country’s oldest cultural institutions, tracing its origins to the personal libraries of the French kings. Over the centuries, it grew from a royal library into a national and imperial institution.” (…) Continue reading…

CODARTfeatures

Published monthly, features provide information on new curatorial developments, current projects, collections of Dutch and Flemish art in museums worldwide, as well as insight into the work of the museum curator.

Last month’s feature was Rembrandt the Beacon. The Myth of a Painter in the Century of Fragonard by Yohan Rimaud. To browse all features, visit codart.nl/features.