12 February 2026 – 7 June 2026
Carel Fabritius’s Goldfinch is undoubtedly the most famous bird in Dutch 17th-century painting. It wasn’t unique, however, for Fabritius to have chosen a simple bird as the subject of his now iconic painting. All over the world and in all periods, birds have always been an important source of inspiration for artists.
In this exhibition, based around The Goldfinch, the Mauritshuis shifts its focus from the Dutch 17th century to the wider world. With an impressive selection of masterpieces from the visual arts around the world – from paintings, sculpture, prints and drawings to the applied arts. From Asia, the Americas, Africa, Oceania, and Europe. A treasure trove of birds, with the universal, connecting power of art as the central theme.
Simon Schama is an English historian and television presenter. He wrote books about art, Holland in the 17th century and the French Revolution.
