Jul 14, 2009, 13:45 GMT
Amsterdam - Art lovers have yet another reason to visit Amsterdam now that Dutch experts have digitally 'revived' the work of the Netherlands' most famous painter, Rembrandt.
The exhibition 'The Complete Rembrandt, Life Size' displays all of the surviving works of the renowned 17th century painter. The works are all digitally enhanced reproductions that, experts claim, show his work in greater detail than anyone in modern times has ever seen.
'The result is amazing,' Stefanie Derks of Local World publishers told the German Press Agency dpa. Local World has just published the exhibition's accompanying book.
'You see full-size photos of Rembrandt's paintings in terrific colour and detail, but after watching three or four images you will perceive them as paintings,' she said.
The collection comprises all surviving 317 paintings, 269 etchings and 105 drawings attributed to Rembrandt van Rijn by the prestigious Dutch Rembrandt Research Project (RRP).
RRP-head Ernst van de Wetering, an art historian affiliated with the University of Amsterdam, is known for using modern techniques of the physical sciences in his research into Rembrandt's work.
The Dutch professor and his team applied digital techniques to revive colourful details in the original paintings that have faded over the course of time or 'in many cases have been mutilated,' Van de Wetering said in a statement.
The art historian photographed the paintings under powerful illumination, enabling him to discern original details. Once keyed into the printing of the reproductions, the images' details became visible once again - without any question of digital 'painting.'
The exhibition is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm at Beurs van Berlage, Damrak 277 1012 ZJ, Amsterdam (just five minutes walk from the city's central railway station).
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