A major retrospective of the Dutch Golden Age painter Gerard van Honthorst has opened at the Centraal Museum in Utrecht, running from April 25 to September 13, 2025. The exhibition brings together numerous large-format works that trace Honthorst's full career, from his early Caravaggesque phase to his later stylistic and thematic diversification across Utrecht, Rome, London, and The Hague. The show is praised for its successful mix of chronological and thematic hanging, offering a comprehensive view of the artist's complexity.
The retrospective matters because it repositions Honthorst as one of the greatest 17th-century painters, challenging the common reduction of his work to mere Caravaggism. The accompanying publication is a thorough biography rather than a traditional exhibition catalogue, which the reviewer notes as the only shortcoming. The exhibition provides a rare opportunity to see Honthorst's full range and evolution, making it essential for scholars and enthusiasts of Dutch Baroque art.