In around 1900, Thérèse Schwartze was described by contemporaries as the ‘Queen of Dutch painting’. Wilhelm Martin, the erstwhile director of the Mauritshuis in The Hague, entered a remark in his commemorative book on Schwartze in 1920: ‘A complete overview of Thérèse’s oeuvre would give a noteworthy picture of court circles and aristocratic families, of the realms of science and art, and of those of the major merchants and manufacturers between 1878 and 1918.’ This is the world that is the focus of attention of the exhibition entitled Thérèse Schwartze (1851-1918) – De Nederlandse fine fleur geportretteerd. The exhibition presents around forty paintings and pastel drawings, many from private collections. A number of these will be on show for the very first time. The exhibition has been compiled in close co-operation with Museum van Loon in Amsterdam, where the exhibition Thérèse Schwartze: de Amsterdamse fine fleur geportretteerd (Portraits of the Fine Fleur of Amsterdam) will be on display from 11 February to 3 May. In conjunction, both exhibitions not only provide a good view of the Fine Fleur of the Netherlands but also elucidate the versatile oeuvre of Thérèse Schwartze.