Museum Vincentre in Nuenen has added an important painting to its own collection with the purchase of Philip Sadée's Potato Harvesters. The work can be admired at the Vincentre from Tuesday, November 3.
Philip Sadée was a contemporary of Vincent van Gogh. Sadée was on Van Gogh's list of favorite artists. For many years, the artwork the Potato Harvesters was privately owned. Due to a move, the owner wanted to offer the artwork at auction through Nuenen art dealer Art Dumay. Art Dumay, however, had a better idea and put the owner in contact with the Vincentre museum, where the painting would be on display to a wider public. The latter particularly appealed to the owner, so it was bought for a "friendly" price, including a minor restoration.
Director Simone van der Heiden: "We appreciate the commitment of the owner and Art Dumay to our museum. And we especially thank The Friends of Vincentre for their financial help with the purchase. After decisive action by Art Dumay and The Friends of Vincentre, everyone can now admire this painting."
Philip Sadée (1837-1904) was an inspiration for Van Gogh. As an artist from the Hague School, Sadée mainly painted working people. This made him one of the first in the Netherlands to paint farmers and fishermen in their own working environment. He showed his social commitment by focusing on poverty and the position of women.
"That made him hit Van Gogh. And also inspired him. Because Van Gogh in his Nuenen period drew and painted many peasants and peasant women, it is a great asset for Vincentre that now this work hangs there with a theme that inspired him so directly," said Simone van der Heiden.
