Rijksmuseum acquires sole signed painting by Gesina ter Borch at TEFAF
Publication date: 07 March 2024 - 10:00
The Rijksmuseum has acquired the only signed painting by Gesina ter Borch (1631-1690), a member of one of the Netherlands’ most important artistic families of the 17th century. The work is a posthumous portrait of the artist’s younger brother Moses at the age of two. The artistic estate of the Ter Borch family entered the Rijksmuseum collection in 1886. It includes almost all Gesina ter Borch’s work, comprising 59 individual drawings and three albums of watercolour drawings. Portrait of Moses ter Borch as a Two Year Old was discovered at an antiques dealership in France by art dealer Dickie Zebregs from Zebregs&Röell Fine Art and Antiques, Amsterdam and Maastricht. The Rijksmuseum was able to purchase this painting at TEFAF with the support of the ‘Women of the Rijksmuseum’ Fund.
Gesina ter Borch painted this moving portrait of her brother, who was 15 years her junior, following his death. This crowning achievement in her artistic legacy also offers an intimate glimpse into her personal life. The pain of loss and the importance of joy-filled memories are universal, and still palpable in this 350-year-old painting.
Taco Dibbits, Genaral Director Rijksmuseum
Gesina ter Borch
Gesina ter Borch (1631-1690) lived and worked her whole life in the Dutch city of Zwolle. Her oeuvre largely comprises watercolour drawings that are exquisite, sometimes humorous and always highly original. While it was known that the artist had also painted oils, not a single uncontested work had surfaced until now. Ter Borch held the artistic estate of her entire family in safekeeping, ensuring it remained intact. The Dutch state purchased this estate in 1886 and housed it at the Rijksmuseum.
Loving
Moses ter Borch was the apple of his family's eye, and his sister Gesina lovingly depicted him wearing a dress with a white apron, and a hat with feathers that contrast sharply with the dark background. He is carrying a drum and holding drumsticks. Next to him stands a toy horse on wheels, against which leans an orange pennant. A whip, several musical instruments and a sword are shown lying on the floor. The toys are references to his later life as a soldier. The artist inscribed the year 1647 on the portrait, but she almost certainly painted it 20 years later, following Moses’ death.
Moses
Gesina ter Borch’s albums in the Rijksmuseum collection contain several exceptional drawings by Moses ter Borch, who was also a promising artist. At the age of 19 he nonetheless joined the Dutch Navy to fight the British in the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-1667 ). He died age 22 from injuries suffered during the assault on the English coast at Harwich. The Rijksmuseum collection contains another posthumous portrait of Moses ter Borch. This work was probably the result of a collaboration between Gesina ter Borch and her brother Gerard ter Borch the Younger – the Rijksmuseum also holds multiple paintings by this artist.
VITAL SUPPORT
The Rijksmuseum collection exists in its current form thanks in large part to donations by private individuals, legacies, government funding, contributions from the business community and funds, and Friends. As well as facilitating the acquisition of important objects, financial gifts make it possible for the Rijksmuseum to conduct research, hold outstanding exhibitions and develop educational programmes. The Rijksmuseum is grateful for all the forms of support that it receives.
