From the museum press release, 31 October 2012
From February 8 until June 8 2013 Museum Van Loon shows Adriaan Dortsman
(1635 -1682) The Ideal Canal. It is the first time that so much of the Dortsman œuvre will be on view to the public.
Dortsman is responsible for the design of numerous canal buildings in Amsterdam including the famous circular Lutheran Church on the Singel, the Sixhuis on the Amstel, Maison Descartes on the Vijzelgracht, the Oosterkerk on the Wittenburgergracht (where Dortsman is buried) and of course Museum Van Loon on the Keizersgracht.
Dortsman’s buildings with their beautiful sober style are exemplary for the Dutch Classicist style.
The exhibition shows his designs and his commissions by means of paintings (amongst whom Gerrit Berckheyde), drawings, photographs and maps. After nearly 400 years the Adriaan Dortsman œuvre revives again.
Besides the exhibition in the coach house, which was also designed by Dortsman, the visitor can track remnants and traces of Dortsman throughout the museum itself.
Alongside the exhibition a canal walk along buildings by Adriaan Dortsman and his colleague Philip Vingboons has been developed in cooperation with The Canalhouse.
The exhibition is organized to celebrate 400 years of Amsterdam Canals and has been made possible by a contribution of the City of Amsterdam.
A richly illustrated and informative book by Pieter Vlaardingerbroek will be published to commemorate this remarkable exhibition.