Linda and Daniel Bader have donated Rembrandt van Rijn’s Head of an Old Man with Curly Hair (1659) to Agnes Etherington Art Centre in honour of Daniel’s late father and Queen’s alumnus, Dr Alfred Bader. Dr Bader,  chemist, entrepreneur, visionary  philanthropist, and discerning collector of art, passed away on 23 December 2018; 28 April would have been his 95th birthday.

“Head of an Old Man with Curly Hair was one of my father’s favourite paintings” says Daniel Bader. “It hung in his living room, where he spent hours admiring it, until he gave it to me in 2001. My wife Linda and I are proud to present this beautiful painting to Queen’s in my father’s honour.”

This remarkable gift is the fourth Rembrandt painting to enter the Agnes collection. The other three were donated by Drs Alfred and Isabel Bader in 2003, 2007 and 2015 respectively. The museum now holds four of the seven paintings by this master in public Canadian collections.

Agnes unveils the notable addition to its collection during the Season Launch on 3 May. It remains on view in The Bader Gallery.

Dr Jacquelyn N. Coutré, Bader Curator and Researcher of European Art at Agnes, reflected on the impact of this generous gift saying, “The donation of Rembrandt van Rijn’s Head of an Old Man with Curly Hair by Linda and Daniel Bader is an extraordinary gesture. Not only is the work an exquisite rendering of old age and light that complements the three Rembrandt paintings in The Bader Collection, but its presentation to the Agnes honours Alfred’s memory in a tremendously appropriate manner. I am so pleased that this painting will be here to enrich possibilities for learning and discovery for all of our audiences.”

Head of an Old Man with Curly Hair is the latest addition to The Bader Collection, which comprises over 200 paintings spanning the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, with a focus on Dutch and Flemish paintings of the Baroque era, which together reflect Rembrandt’s sphere of artistic influence. The quality of these works has brought international renown to the Agnes making it a destination in Canada for the research, study and enjoyment of Rembrandt and his circle.

“I am touched, and grateful for this wonderful gift of art in honour of a truly remarkable man: Dr Alfred Bader. This painting extends the impact of The Bader Collection at Queen’s in powerful ways,” says Agnes Director Jan Allen. “Thanks to the generosity and thoughtfulness of Linda and Daniel Bader, this outstanding painting will be available for present and future generations.”

Agnes Etherington Art Centre is a globally networked art museum, which is home to significant, high-quality collections. In addition to The Bader Collection, collections include concentrations in contemporary art, Canadian historical art, and smaller concentrations of African art, Indigenous art, and historical dress.