Exhibitions marking 250th anniversary of the US open in New York

"One of them is the New York Historical's Old Masters, New Amsterdam (until 30 August). One of several America 250 shows at the museum this year, it is drawn entirely from the Leiden Collection-philanthropist Thomas Kaplan's self-described "lending library" of 17th-century Netherlandish masterpieces (which is also set to be offered for fractional ownership)."

"The exhibition foregrounds a less examined, yet foundational perspective on early American history: the lives and ambitions of New York's original Dutch colonists. Its aim is to offer a cross-section of early settler society, from doctors and accountants to ordinary working people."

"Arthur K. Wheelock Jr, a senior adviser to the Leiden Collection, says the works on view capture "the sights and sounds of people and the activities that gave life to New Amsterdam, ones that have persisted to the present day"."

"For Russell Shorto, the director of the New Amsterdam Project and the co-curator of the exhibition, the "modern conception of the self" is central to these scenes. "Previously, in Europe, yo"

The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is being celebrated and contested across the United States. A rare handwritten copy of the Declaration by Thomas Jefferson is scheduled for display at the New York Public Library from 1 to 7 July, while other New York institutions are already holding related programming. America 250 events emphasize an inclusive, varied view of the anniversary, spanning Dutch Golden Age paintings and contemporary Native American art. The New York Historical’s exhibition “Old Masters, New Amsterdam” uses works from the Leiden Collection to foreground the lives and ambitions of New York’s original Dutch colonists. The show presents a cross-section of early settler society, including doctors, accountants, and working people, and connects historical activities to the present day.

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