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The Concert by Honthorst, Gerrit van

Honthorst, Gerrit van · 1623

Gerrit van Honthorst's "The Concert," a vibrant 1623 oil painting, has a dramatic history that almost saw it lost forever. This lively scene, featuring seven richly dressed figures engrossed in music, was stolen from its museum in The Hague in 1969.

The painting depicts a moment of shared enjoyment, with lutes and a violin in play, and expressions conveying merriment and camaraderie. The artist's masterful use of chiaroscuro creates dramatic light and shadow, highlighting the figures and drawing the viewer into the performance.

The thief, an art collector, attempted to ransom the work, but police successfully recovered it after nearly a year. Miraculously, the painting was found undamaged in his home. Today, it remains a beloved and popular piece at the Mauritshuis in The Hague.

Doesn't it make you wonder what other secrets these old paintings might hold?

Details

This painting was stolen in 1969 from its museum in The Hague.
This painting was stolen in 1969 from its museum in The Hague.
It was missing for nearly a year.
It was missing for nearly a year.
The thief, an art collector, tried to ransom it.
The thief, an art collector, tried to ransom it.
But the police found it, undamaged, in his home.
But the police found it, undamaged, in his home.
It returned to the museum, where it's a star attraction.
It returned to the museum, where it's a star attraction.
Transcript

A lively concert by a Dutch master. This painting was stolen in 1969 from its museum in The Hague. It was missing for nearly a year. The thief, an art collector, tried to ransom it. But the police found it, undamaged, in his home. It returned to the museum, where it's a star attraction.