Large in number, small in size - The Alkemade collection

After his death, the family of Mr Alkemade donated the collection, via the Dutch Cultural Heritage Agency, as a long-term loan to the Bonnefanten.

The Bonnefanten is a big museum: a monumental building with hefty galleries and a sizeable collection. To stand out, the artworks often need a considerable size. Metres-high sculptures or elongated paintings are no stranger to the museum. Yet the Bonnefantencollection also houses artworks of a smaller size. A great example is the Alkemade Collection, a collection of devotional prints which consists of over a thousand prayer cards and a dozen miniatures. The miniatures and prayer cards entered the Bonnefantencollection in 2018. Mr. Alkemade lived in Maastricht and collected a large quantity of devotional prints during his lifetime. After his death, the family of Mr Alkemade donated the collection via the Dutch Cultural Heritage Agency as a long-term loan to the Bonnefanten.

A unique section within the collection is a selection of 15th-century miniatures. These miniatures complement the museum's current collections of 15th- and 16th-century sculpture and 16th-century Southern Dutch painting. The miniatures originate from 15th-century manuscripts from the Ghent-Bruges context. They are handwritten and coloured on a sheet of parchment made from animal skin. Funnily enough, the name 'miniature' does not refer to its small size but to the technique that was used to make these prints. The word derives from the Latin 'miniare', which means 'to write with minimum' and refers to the red pigment, e.g. vermilion or menie, used to colour capital letters in early manuscripts. In the Middle Ages, the person who used the red pigment was called the 'miniator'. Initially, miniatures were often made by monks. Later on, professional book illuminators took over this 'monk's work'. Prayer cards are devotional prints used as an aid for prayer. After the death of a loved one, a prayer card is issued as a memento of that person. It is mainly a Catholic tradition which has existed since the Middle Ages. These prayer cards fit well in the historical context of the Southern part of the Netherlands.

Scroll down for a selection of the collection.

Willem Vrelant, Golgotha, ca. 1450-1470, 31.2 x 23 cm. Inventory number: 1006084-a01. Collection Bonnefanten, long-term loan Culture Heritage Agency (Collection Fons Alkemade, Maastricht).

Hardouin (drukker), Johannes de evangelist en apostel (uit getijdenboek), 1512, 34.3 x 25.9 cm. Inventory number: 1006084-a04. Collection Bonnefanten, long-term loan Culture Heritage Agency (Collection Fons Alkemade, Maastricht).

Maker unknown, Andeken von Maria van Kevelaer, ca. 1740, 19 x 16 cm. Inventory number: 1006084-a07. Collection Bonnefanten, long-term loan Culture Heritage Agency (Collection Fons Alkemade, Maastricht).

Maker unknown, Il m’appelle a Lui, ca. 1850, 18.7 x 14 cm. Inventory number: 1006084-a29. Collection Bonnefanten, long-term loan Culture Heritage Agency (Collection Fons Alkemade, Maastricht).

Maker unknown, Cecile met harp, 1801-1900, 17.2 x 12.2 cm. Inventory number: 1006084-a33. Collection Bonnefanten, long-term loan Culture Heritage Agency (Collection Fons Alkemade, Maastricht).