The Mauritshuis has for many years had an engaging and high-quality painting by Pieter Lastman (1583-1633), Rembrandt’s most influential teacher, on its wish list. This dream has now been fulfilled with the acquisition of St John the Baptist Preaching of 1627. The painting was purchased from an American owner by the Friends of the Mauritshuis Foundation with the support of a private donor. Emilie Gordenker, Director Mauritshuis: ‘The timing of the acquisition of this painting by Lastman, at the beginning of a national Rembrandt Year, is ideal. We have been on the lookout for an outstanding example of Lastman’s work, due to the impact he had on the young Rembrandt. We are extremely grateful to everyone who made our wish come true, especially the private donor and the Friends of the Mauritshuis.’ In his day the Amsterdam artist Pieter Lastman was one of the leading painters of history paintings (works that d

A very early pair of so called tulip vases will be presented at the recently renamed Winter Show. Previously known as the Winter Antiques Show, the show is the leading art, antiques, and design fair in America, featuring 70 of the world’s top experts in the fine and decorative arts boasts. Aronson of Amsterdam, who celebrate their 25th anniversary at the show will present the audience with a newly discovered pair of flower vases. The pair of blue and white flower vases were produced in the city of Delft around 1680. Each is marked LC in blue for Lambertus Cleffius, the owner of De Metaale Pot (The Metal Pot) factory from 1679 to 1691. The vases are 20.1 cm. (7.9 in.) high and each have eight spouts surrounding the large central spout. Although several types of vases with spouts are known, this model seems to be unique. Besides the present pair, only two other flower vases marked for Lambertus Cleffius are known to date. A larg

Dating back centuries, Algeria’s pyramid tombs are unique relics of an ancient era but a dearth of research has left the Jeddars shrouded in mystery. The 13 monuments, whose square stone bases are topped with angular mounds, are perched on a pair of hills near the city of Tiaret, some 250 kilometres (155 miles) southwest of the capital Algiers. Constructed between the fourth and seventh centuries, the tombs are believed by some scholars to have been built as final resting places for Berber royalty — although nobody knows who truly laid within. But Algerian authorities and archaeologists are now pushing to get the Jeddars listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, in the hope of assuring their preservation and study. Gaining such status is a lengthy process and the culture ministry said Algeria’s application to the UN body “will be filed during