From the National Gallery, 12 November 2015
Rembrandt’s Self Portrait at the Age of 63, a much-loved work from the National Gallery Collection, is going on tour in January 2016 as the final painting in the three-year Masterpiece Tour.
The three UK host venues for 2016 are the Ulster Museum, Belfast; Abbot Hall, Kendal; and Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.
The Masterpiece Tour is part of the National Gallery’s commitment to promote the understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of Old Master paintings to as wide an audience as possible. This opportunity to bring hugely popular National Gallery paintings to the public’s doorstep is being made possible by the generous support of Christie’s.
Ulster Museum, Belfast
15 January – 13 March 2016
The first stop on the tour will be the Ulster Museum in Belfast. Located in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens, the Ulster Museum is the largest museum in Northern Ireland. With extensive collections from art, history, and natural sciences, the Museum re-opened in 2009 following a major renovation and won the coveted UK Art Fund prize in 2010. It is renowned for its extensive collection of Irish art and recently completed a major renovation of its Modern History gallery. Rembrandt’s ‘Self Portrait at the Age of 63’ will be hung alongside a selection of Dutch 17th-century paintings from the Ulster Museum collection.
Sinéad McCartan, Acting Director of Collections and Interpretation at National Museums Northern Ireland, said:
“We count it a privilege to be one of the host venues for the Masterpiece Tour and are delighted to be displaying Rembrandt’s ‘Self Portrait at the Age of 63’. It is an incredible work of art and particularly poignant as it was painted during the last year of Rembrandt’s life. I am sure visitors will be thrilled to see this hugely significant and remarkable painting displayed at the Ulster Museum.”