The Poetry of Everyday Life

Tradition has it that the young American republic had a natural affinity with the 17th-century Dutch oligarchy--they shared concepts of democracy, religious freedom, the rise of the middle class, and a protestant work ethic. Bostonians from the 18th century to the present have turned this affinity into a passion for collecting Dutch painting. Landscapes that capture the subtleties of southern light, cityscapes and church interiors, seascapes, portraits, genre scenes, and still lifes are among the humble, precious, everyday subjects that have appealed to them. This book traces the history of Boston's remarkable collection of Dutch painting, including little-known works by Rembrandt, Balthasar van der Ast, Jan van der Heyden, and Jacob van Ruisdael, bringing together works from private collections usually seen only in their owner's homes.