[train whistle blowing] global warming. [whistle blows] some say irreversible consequences are 30 years away. 30 years?

that won't affect me. [brakes screech]

while i get myself settled, maybe a show of hands. how many already been to see the exhibition? a number of you. first of all let me say good afternoon and first and foremost i would like to thank my colleagues in the education department in the fine arts museum of san francisco for an allowing me to speak today. valuable artwork -- rene, director of public programs and last on this list but certainly not least gregory stock who is a programming wizard. i'm so grateful for their individual and collective support. i would also like to thank the

production manager who is behind-the-scenes somewhere. he's waving. our production manager consistently provide patient and reliable technical support which is beyond value when lecturing to large audiences like those of you gathered today. without further a do, i'm honored to share with you today paintings that comprise the exhibition here at the museum. girl with a pearl earring, from january 26-june 2nd the museum will be the first venue in the american tour of paintings from the royal picture gallery which is located in haik. how many have individual painting in the

normal home? a good number of you. this unique museum is often called the jouleewelry box. it has the world's most prestigious paintings from the morris house which toured in 1982, it visited chicago, new york and los angeles. this has been several years in the making . there were

approximately 48 paintings in tokyo and both of those about dutch an paintings. 30 paintings in this exhibition were in japan and 5 paintings that came to us specifically in san francisco. two of them fresh out of the conservation lab so they are being revealed in their full glory to our visitors in san francisco. an expansion in the mars house which is currently under way makes this opportunity possible. the girl with the pearl earring here in san francisco feet atures 35 paintings characteristic during the dutch golden age. after the exhibition closes in san

francisco it will travel to the museum in atlanta and it will go to a collection in new york. perhaps the most famous of the works that has traveled to the united states is a celebrated masterpiece girl with the pearl earring. it is this painting. we set our scene in holland during the dutch golden age this span of the 17th century where trade, industry and science were among the world. the one small port of amsterdam were one of the commercial centers in the entire world. this concentration of capital enriched bankers and merchants

but also created the society in europe. the arch of the dutch golden age. 17th century travelers visiting holland remarked on the number of artist. typically western european artist on the monarch and the nobility as well as the very wealthie catholic church. an open market to a wide clientele that arranged from variety of merchants. it displays a modern domestic rather than extravagant or royal setting which it was

carried. emily who is the director of the morris house. the expansion which i will talk about in an a little bit will give it more space. for the collection there is a limited pictures they can acquire but too large for the building. so where do the paintings come from? how can they be there. this is an exceptional and remarkable museum. this splendid 17th century city palace was constructed between

1633-1634 next to the dutch government. i was told the prime ministers office was still there. it was named for the building's first occupant. the countel elevated to prince and appoint commander and chief in the states army in 1668. the dutch they purchased an outstanding example of this architecture in 1820 to have the royal cabinet of painting and curiosity. this collection rich history is the stockholders in 1822. it's official name,

royal picture gallery morris house. today the morris house collection focuses on the best 17th century paintings from the northern and southern netherlands, the works of world renounced artist, all of which are in this exhibition. it also exhibits work of superb examples of this age. the collection makes the morris house a rare and precious place. truly the gem of dutch mucous. it's similar to our allegiance of honor in san francisco, they too like we have 850 paintings in their permanent collection and

display about 250 at any time which is a recollect legs of any of our buildings which i like to think of the jew el in the city of san francisco. the historic 17th century palace has limited his ability to expand. so works from his permanent collection have moved to a common and incompetent competent missionary program. the vacant build across the street from the morris home is

a building with an underground link. when the project is complete, the museum will be twice as large, modern and up to date visitor facilities will include new space for educational program. auditorium, a shop and cafe, and new exhibition galleries. the elegant design for this substantial expansion will be calibrated for the atmosphere of the morris house. this due to reopen in mid 2014. we were told they are definitely on schedule to reopen in 2014. if you plan to make the trip now, you can probably book your tickets safely, although don't hold me accountable for that.

we have a special opportunity to enjoy a superb collection from the morris house here in san francisco. so my lecture is organized to correspond with the section headings for each gallery. the sequence in which i will discuss the paintings correspond with the layout. the first gallery exhibition is devoted to landscape paintings. dutch landscape and it's characteristic atmospheric conditions provided countless artist with rich subject matter. it's sprawling fields and ubiquitious canals with beautiful natural surroundings. the low lying horizons and cloidz at clouds that dominated

the paintings. many dutch landscapes also feature the regions beautiful and prosperous cities which were sources of great pride in the 17th century artist painted close-ups. here we see his painting of the circus party 1690 which features the morris house. this looks quite similar to what you would see today although when he painted the picture, you wouldn't have this view, there were a row of buildings here, so this is a little bit of artistic license and interesting to think about because this is way the site looks today but wouldn't have looked like that in 1690 when he paint this picture. this is

the gate that is still here today. this is the catholic church by manuel. this is the only type of it's exhibition. although it is an interior scene, the 17th century dutch painting which is the artist attention to the effect of life. here the artist subject is the atmosphere and play of light in an imagined catholic church. diffused light through the church. bathing interest rain shower interior with the glow and architectural space. here we see view of harlem with

bleaching ground 1675. he was the leading painter of this golder age. view of harlem with bleaching ground not until the bash zone schools he painted on easels to look what was going to be translated. it's something to look at artist typically from going back to the studios and painting. another example master full approach to the landscape genre is evidenced here in landscape 1660-1670. he has captured the forest with

ice, frost and snow covered ground. the virtually monochromatic scene. it's interesting to point out that 17th dutch paintings is related to the usual climactic conditions at the time. from 1850 all of western europe experienced an ice age. he painted 25 winter landscapes during the most severe period of relative cool summers and cold winters. most of europe is experience is a cold winter so she's dragging her suit case behind her to make sure she got

here for the open exhibition. there are actually 2 famous dutch painters ruisdael whose paintings we just looked at. he's also represented in our exhibition of this gallery. health and safety here is his view of his painting from 1648 which is in our own collection. if we compare the two paintings, we see similarity in the cloud t low horizon line and the small scale in the figure of the boat and the small scale of the natural world and the beautiful reflection on the water. these

two paintings demonstrate the very best paintings. another pioneer of this genre is january van joeg an from 1653 and this is thunderstorm from 1541 at the collection of the fine arts museum. this painting and van rios painting i showed you are in our other building in linkin park. here we see the two paintings side by side. the thunderstorm shows figure overcome by a powerful tempest where a van voin manipulates master full