Dozens of Rembrandt prints have been discovered in a previously unknown private collection in the Netherlands. According to the Dutch regional broadcaster Omroep Gelderland, the etchings have not seen the light of day for more than a hundred years and are in excellent condition.
The owner and collector of the etchings, Charlotte Meyer, inherited the collection from her grandfather. In the early 20th century, he collected various beautiful etchings which, at the time, were not sought-after collector’s items. As an enthusiast, he managed to acquire important prints for his collection at very competitive prices. The objects remained safely stored and were forgotten. Following the death of her mother, Charlotte Meyer inherited her grandfather’s art collection, and in 2020, the Rembrandt prints were finally discovered in the darkness of a vault.
Meyer had the etchings examined by experts from the Rembrandt House Museum, at which point the true significance of the find became clear. Since the discovery, she has dedicated herself to researching and expanding her collection. The collector now also personally acquires etchings by the master’s predecessors, contemporaries, and followers.
Exhibition
Meyer’s collection will be on display at the Stedelijk Museum Zutphen starting 21 March in the exhibition Rembrandt: Van donker naar licht (Rembrandt: From Darkness to Light). In addition to Rembrandt’s work, the exhibition will feature etchings by his predecessors, contemporaries, and followers from her collection.