THE ART OF SURVIVING & SURVIVING OF ART

Part II.  Art Collecting as  a Humanistic Duty

Part I can be read here. 

In mid-March 2026, at the annual TEFAF Maastricht art fair of the best fine art on the market, a very meaningful acquisition of the great work by the fantastically talented pupil of Rembrandt was made by the superb The Leiden Collection. 

The great and very rare work which was  the part of the famous Rothschild family collection during four generations, and which has been known in the art world as ‘the Rothschild Willem Drost’  had been acquired for his unique The Leiden Collection by Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan, an exceptional art collector with a superbly fine knowledge of art and deep humanist vision for its purpose. 

“There are things which cannot be unseen” 

In his exclusive comments regarding the seminal acquisition, Dr Kaplan explained: 

“ When we first saw Man with a Plumed Red Beret, my wife and I were completely stunned by its power and beauty. It is ever so rare that artists capture the emotional energy that Willem Drost achieves in this most exquisite image. We both found his painting so exceptional that it became the first and only work of art that The Leiden Collection ever borrowed from anyone!” 

This fact alone speaks volumes. The quality of The Leiden Collection, with its  19 Rembrandts, 7 Lievens, and 27 works of van Mierises, father and his two sons, and the only Vermeer in private ownership, is unique. With their vision,  policies, and produced fantastic international exhibitions, The Leiden Collection can be justly called an art institution of the top world rank. 

Their  attention to this painting in particular, with its amazing history, did not come by chance. 

As Dr Thomas S. Kaplan told me,  “To the extent possible, we collect artists in depth…that is to say, multiple examples. Yet we now have only one Drost. In truth, seeing Man with a Plumed Red Beret spoiled us. Some things cannot be unseen, and hence for us, it became the aspirational paradigm. It is simply unique — a generational acquisition as well as a bona fide treasure. It exhibits an exhilarating use of light and shadow that rivals the greatest of the Rembrandt School.”

Comparing this new fantastic addition to some other works from The Leiden Collection, its owner noted an interesting parallel with regard to another highly talented Rembrandt student, Carel Fabritius:  “In fact, in its bravura effect, Carel Fabritius comes to mind. Our masterpieces of both ( Rembrandt’s) pupils are united not only in their scarcity, but breathtaking impact too.” 

This comparison is deep and multi-dimensional. As Drost, Fabritius was an artist of immense talent and craft. As Drost, he lived quite a short life, just 32 years. Fabritius’ surviving artworks are twice rare nowadays than very rare works of Drost. We know only 13 works of Fabritius, which........

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