|
René Descartes by Jan Baptist Weenix circa 1647-1649 |
Opening sunday March 30, an
exhibition about Het Oude Hof in Bergen, Noord Holland.
Het
Oude Hof was a park modelled after Versailles, though much smaller, located on the 17th century estate of a young
aristocrat, Anthonis Studler Van Zurck. His friend and philosopher
René Descartes helped him plan the park, introducing the latest french designs. Work began even before Versailles was finished.
Nowadays the park is reduced to its paths and outlines: a fading memory. Nevertheless it is and has been an inspiration for artists throughout the centuries.
Around
Amsterdam many of these Baroque estates entertained the aristocracy and
most of all the weatlhy merchants.
Besides
the many artifacts that illustrate this leisurely life style from the past, about a
dozen contemporary artists made work related to Het Oude Hof and René
Descartes:
Meinbert Gozewijn van Soest
Hoflaan 26
1861 CR Bergen
www.kranenburgh.nl