The work “The Flag Bearer” (around 1636) was offered for sale by the Rothschild family in 2019 and then declared a national cultural treasure by the French government. The related export ban of 30 months has now expired without the Louvre or any other French museum raising the money for the purchase. “The French now want to issue an export permit on condition that the work is on public display,” said Taco Dibbits, director of the Amsterdam Rijksmuseum. The painting is to be shown there in the future.
With 150 million euros, the Dutch Ministry of Culture is providing the largest amount by far. The Rembrandt Association, to which around 16,000 art lovers belong, contributes a further 15 million. The Rijksmuseum wants to contribute ten million euros. The painting was valued at 165 million euros a few years ago, but it could be more expensive now.
With the self-portrait “The Flag Bearer” Rembrandt achieved an artistic breakthrough, which later led to the commission for “The Night Watch”, declared the Ministry of Culture.
In 2015, France and the Netherlands jointly raised 160 million euros to buy two Rembrandt works from the Rothschild family, which have since been shown alternately in the Louvre and the Rijksmuseum.
Source: Nachrichten
