HET OUDE HOF & RENÉ DESCARTES

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:

Diana Blok

Carlijn Mens

Meinbert Gozewijn van Soest

Caitlin Hulscher

Roy Villevoye

Kees Visser

Dineke Blom

Koos Breukel

Paul van den Hout

Manon van Kouswijk

Ronald Noorman

Anthonie Sas

Luuk de Haan


Kranenburgh

Hoflaan 26
1861 CR Bergen
www.kranenburgh.nl