Rembrandt's marriage portraits to be restored in Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

The two marriage portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit, made by Rembrandt in 1634, will be restored in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

This has been agreed by the Netherlands and France.

Each country will buy one of the portraits: France will buy the portrait of Oopjen Coppit (the lady) and the Netherlands the portrait of Maerten Soolmans.
It has been agreed that the two paintings will always remain together.
Each country will pay EUR 80 million to the Rothshild family, the current owners of the portraits.

The negotiations between the two countries took several months. The issue of the restoration was the most difficult part. France and Holland have quite different traditions and work modes when it comes to restoration. The restoration will be overseen by an international committee of experts.

The paintings will be shown in the Paris museum the Louvre, and in the Rijksmuseum, in turn.
First, the paintings will be shown in the Louvre for three months, then for three months in the Rijksmuseum. After that, the restoration will take place in Amsterdam.
It is expected that the paintings will first be shown on the occasion of the state visit by King Willem-Alexander, on March 10 and 11.

After the restoration, the paintings will be shown for three months in the Rijksmuseum, followed by 3 months in the Louvre. The next period will be each 5 years, followed by periods of 8 years.

The idea of letting the portraits make a tour through the 12 provinces of the Netherlands has been cancelled. The paintings are quite large, and vulnerable, so there is too much risk involved in the transport.