Thanks to the suggestion of our fellow region member Pieter Hoogcarspel, 25 KIVI members, including several invited guests, were able to enjoy an interesting and very enthusiastically delivered lecture by Dr Christi Klinkert, curator of Ancient Art, at the Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar on Friday 31 August.

In 1538-1543, Maarten van Heemskerck, one of the most important Renaissance artists of the Low Countries, created an immense altarpiece for the Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk: the so-called Laurentius Altarpiece. This altarpiece is the largest triptych created in the Northern Netherlands. After the Reformation, the masterpiece lost its function; it was therefore sold in 1581. Through an intermediary, it came into the hands of the king of Sweden, who placed it in Linköping Cathedral. It still stands there today. As part of the 500th anniversary of the Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk, the side panels were temporarily returned to Alkmaar.

This sounds simple, but it is a project that began back in 2010 with an initial discussion with the current owner, the (Lutheran) Swedish Church, to explore whether a loan was among the possibilities. After a positive response, it was waiting for a suitable opportunity, which presented itself in the organisation of the festive 500th anniversary of the Great or St Laurens Church in 2018.

A first step was an investigation - at Alkmaar's expense - into the condition of the Altarpiece to see if transport was possible at all. After this too was confirmed, the next challenge was the size of the Altarpiece - in unfolded form about 6m high and 8m wide!

Because of an existing large crack, which could only get bigger when transported, it was decided to leave the 6m by 4m centrepiece in Linköping. So the focus was on the side panels, each consisting of a large upper section with 3 hinges and a smaller lower section with 2 hinges. Since it was uncertain whether everything would be able to come loose properly, the fallback was to transport only the 2 small lower panels (the press release was already ready in case this should happen......).

Normally - because the panel slats are mostly vertical - such a panel would have to be transported standing, vertically, which would only be possible with a special flatbed truck and formwork (would be +/- 3x more expensive). Fortunately, the panel slats turned out to be horizontal, so transport could be done on the sides with the hinges.

Weight was also a big unknown. Estimates varied with an expectation of 750kg, but ultimately turned out to be +/- 300kg per side panel.

The project was planned and coordinated by Dr Christi in collaboration with the Swedish Church's art advisor. Panel painting specialists were consulted and one of them supervised the actual work, which was carried out by a team from a specialist company in transporting art, consisting of five men + an air-conditioned truck + special crane and aerial platform (which can pass through a normal door when folded......).

That care was taken is shown by the time taken: 2 days for removal and packing in Linköping and 1 day for unpacking and hanging in the Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk.

Total cost for round trip is about €150,000.

As Dr Klinkert summarised it: her most interesting, challenging and fun project to date.

Description

The board of KIVI Region Noord-Holland - also on behalf of the board of KIVI Region Alkmaar - has the pleasure of inviting you to attend a unique visit to Maarten van Heemskerck's altarpiece and a lecture on its transport to be given by Dr Christi M. Klinkert, curator of the Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar.

Van Heemskerck was an Alkmaar painter in the 16th century. He made a gigantic altarpiece for the Grote Kerk in Alkmaar, which was sold shortly after the iconoclasm and ended up in the Cathedral in Linköping, Sweden. To mark the 500th anniversary of the Grote Kerk, the altarpiece was (partly) 'briefly' brought back to Alkmaar, where it will be on display until 7 October. The whole process of returning it to Alkmaar and later transporting it back to Sweden can safely be called a technical tour de force.

Details and registration
Admission to the museum and Grote Kerk is free for museum card holders. Non-cardholders can obtain a combined ticket for € 12.
Contribution to the cost of lunch and lecture is € 15, to be paid in advance when registering via KIVI website

Speaker(s)

Dr Christi M. Klinkert, curator of the Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar

Location

Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar, Canadaplein 1

1811 KE Alkmaar

Organiser

Region North-Holland

Name and contact details for information

North-Holland region

noordholland@kivi.nl