Treasures from the nation’s art collection have landed in Denver as part of commemorations for the 250th anniversary of the U.S.

DENVER – The Denver Art Museum (DAM) announces that two key artworks from the National Gallery of Art’s (NGA) collection will be on display at DAM for two years.  

A masterpiece by Rembrandt van Rijn and an additional portrait of Rembrandt, likely painted by his studio, will be on view at the DAM as part of the National Gallery’s “Across the Nation” program. The collaboration, which brings some of the most important and beloved works of art to communities across the country, is part of the NGA’s program commemorating the 250^th anniversary of the United States of America in 2026.

At the DAM, Rembrandt’s A Woman Holding a Pink and Portrait of Rembrandt by the artist’s workshop is now on view, through Feb. 6, 2027, in the European Art Before 1800 galleries on the 6^th level of the museum’s Martin Building and will be included with general admission.

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669), one of the most celebrated artists of the 1600s, excelled in the genre of portraiture, which flourished at the time in the northern Netherlands and the Dutch Republic. Dutch artists challenged traditional portrait conventions by capturing the subject’s personality and their individuality, instead of solely focusing on their economic and social status.

“We are honored to be among the first museums in the country to participate in this initiative with the National Gallery of Art. It is an incredible moment to carry the talents of Rembrandt at the DAM and offer our visitors the opportunity to interact with his brilliance for the next two years,” said Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the DAM. “The Woman Holding a Pink exemplifies Rembrandt’s unique skill to capture the personality of the sitter. Her wide warm eyes and attentive focus makes you feel as if you know her well and should be able to talk to her on the spot. The second painting, Portrait of Rembrandt, shows us the master dressed in one of his beloved theatrical costumes, posing in dramatic flickering light, so typical for his style.”

This initiative aims to share the nation’s art collection with museums across the country, making it more accessible than ever before. Works of art will be on loan at 10 partner museums in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Utah and Washington, creating unprecedented access to the nation’s masterworks, placing them directly in communities across the country.

Works on loan were selected in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art by museum professionals who know their communities best. At DAM, the curators of European Art before 1900, Angelica Daneo and Clarisse Fava-Piz, chose to focus on Rembrandt as one of the most influential European masters of the 1600s.

“These key loans from the National Gallery of Art constitute a most fitting addition to our seventeenth century gallery, ‘Drama and Grandeur,’ where they complement our display of portrait paintings by Mary Beale, Peter Lely, and Anthony van Dyck,” said Fava-Piz. “A Woman Holding a Pink and Portrait of Rembrandt testify to the profound influence of Rembrandt on his contemporaries and the development of European Art. They might also provide some of our audience members the opportunity to see a Rembrandt painting for the first time!”

The simplicity of concept, forcefulness of execution, and nobility of character evident in Rembrandt’s A Woman Holding a Pink are qualities that have consistently garnered admiration for this work and are exemplary of the painter’s celebrated skills. Next to it, visitors can admire Portrait of Rembrandt, once acquired as an authentic work by his own hand, is now thought to be executed by the artist’s workshop. It is possible that Rembrandt, after having posed for this painting, approved of its concept and manner of execution before allowing its sale. To judge from the number of self-portraits Rembrandt painted and etched, and from the numerous portraits of him made by members of his workshop, there was a ready market for images of the artist.

These paintings are on view thanks to the National Gallery of Art’s "Across the Nation" program to share the nation’s collection with museums across the country.

Planning Your Visit

The most up-to-date information on planning a visit to the Denver Art Museum can be found online under the?Plan Your Visit tab. Use this page to find details on ticket pricing, public transit options and access information. General admission for museum members is free every day. Youth aged 18 and under receive free general admission everyday thanks to the museum’s Free for Kids program. Free for Kids also underwrites free admission for school and youth group visits.