Axel Rueger
Axel Rüger (* 1968 in Dortmund ) is a German art historian and curator . From June 2019 he will head the Royal Academy of Arts in London. He was director of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam between 2006 and 2019.
Career
Rüger studied art history from 1989 to 1993 at the Free University of Berlin and from 1993 to 1994 at the University of Cambridge . He began his dissertation on the Hague architectural painter Bartholomeus van Bassen at Queen's University in Kingston (Ontario) (Canada) . From 1998 to 1999 he continued his research on van Bassen at Radboud University in Nijmegen . However, the doctorate has not yet been completed. While studying, he did internships in museums in Atlanta, Detroit and Washington.
In 1999 Rüger, a specialist in Jan Vermeer and the Delft School, became curator of 17th century Dutch painting at the National Gallery in London . In 2004 he took part in the Clore Leadership Program , which included a four-month internship at the Royal Court Theater in London.
Following a decision by the Board of Trustees of the Van Gogh Museum Foundation, Rüger was appointed director of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Mesdag Collection in The Hague on April 1, 2006 . His predecessor John Leighton went to the National Gallery of Scotland as general director . The Van Gogh Museum is the most visited museum in the Netherlands. In Amsterdam, Rüger developed into a fundraising expert. The museum covers 50% of its income through ticket sales, only about 25% comes from the state, the remaining 25% is generated from fundraising and commercial activities. For the first time since 1928, under Rüger's direction, a painting - Sunset at Montmajour - was recognized as another authentic work by Van Gogh.
Rüger speaks perfect English and Dutch. On June 8, 2016, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung listed him as one of the two most promising candidates to succeed Max Hollein as director of the Frankfurt museum association Städel / Schirn / Liebieghaus .
In February 2019 it was announced that Rüger will head the Royal Academy of Arts from June 2019 .
Curated exhibitions (selection)
- 2001: Vermeer and the Delft School (Vermeer at the Delft School), Metropolitan Museum of Art , New York; then National Gallery, London.
- 2002: Aelbert Cuyp , National Gallery of Art , Washington DC; then National Gallery, London.
Fonts
- Portrait of the Dutch. Masterpieces from Rembrandt to Frans Hals , Belser, Cologne, 2007 ISBN 978-3-7630-2491-9
- Vermeer and the Delft School , Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2001 ISBN 978-0-87099-973-4
- Vermeer and Painting in Delft , National Gallery Company, London, 2001 ISBN 978-0-300-09189-2
- Van Gogh Museum: The Building , Nai010 Publishers, Amsterdam, 2016 ISBN 978-94-6208-261-8
Web links
- Literature by and about Axel Rüger in the catalog of the German National Library
- Website: Van Gogh Museum, Board
- Gina Thomas: Van Gogh's husband . In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung of January 12, 2006
- Hours of the mysterious . Interview with Axel Rüger. In: Der Spiegel from September 15, 2008
Individual evidence
- ↑ Michael Hierholzer: Schirn and Städel in one hand in the future too. In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. June 8, 2016, p. 29.
- ↑ Mark Brown Arts correspondent: Axel Rüger leaves Van Gogh behind to head Royal Academy . In: The Guardian . February 13, 2019, ISSN 0261-3077 ( theguardian.com [accessed February 13, 2019]).
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Rüger, Axel |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German art historian and curator |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1968 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Dortmund |