by Emily Zaal
BEGINNING on April 19th, Don Robbins’ seventy Hague School paintings will be exhibited at Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, Florida for about six months. “My main goal is to bring awareness to The Hague School in the United States. It used to be the most popular thing going on here, but it’s totally been forgotten,” said Don. His collection includes paintings by famous artists such as Mesdag, Mauve, Maris and Israëls.
July 3rd, 2000 marked a pivotal moment that changed Don’s life forever. While on a trip to The Hague with his wife, enjoying a break from being a math professor and golf coach in St. Augustine, Don felt a strong urge to visit The Mesdag Collection Museum. As he meandered through, admiring The Hague School paintings, a sense of calmness washed over him. One visit quickly led to another, and captivated by The Hague School, he decided to delve deeper by purchasing a book to expand his knowledge.
The Hague School was a Dutch artistic movement in the late 19th century, known for its realistic landscapes and emphasis on capturing the effects of light. Inspired by the rural surroundings of The Hague, artists of this movement sought to depict everyday life with a sense of authenticity and emotion. “It’s almost like I drift away when I stare at some of these Hague School paintings,” shared Don, “my heart rate just seems to slow down.”
In 2000, buying that single book at the museum ignited his two-decade-long exploration of the paintings. Six years later, in 2006, he began collecting Hague School paintings at auctions. Fast-forward to 2024, and Don proudly declares, “I basically have the Mesdag Museum recreated here in St. Augustine.” With 35 paintings upstairs and 35 downstairs, Don feels fortunate to live in a house brimming with Dutch culture.
DURING THE six-month exhibition at Lightner Museum, Don anticipates his home to feel quite empty. Nevertheless, he’s thrilled that others will have the opportunity to enjoy his paintings as much as he does. Throughout this period, Don will be offering lectures on the paintings’ history and conducting guided tours, allowing visitors to appreciate them up close. Additionally, he
wrote a book titled “The Second Golden Age of Dutch Painting: The Hague School in the Nineteenth Century,” where he delves into the history of 69 out of the 70 paintings he possesses. Excerpts from the book will be displayed alongside the paintings.
That single visit to The Hague 24 years ago left a lasting positive impact on him. Despite not being Dutch, Don has been learning the language and feels deeply connected to the culture. “My personality fits better in the Netherlands than it does in the United States. I keep a bike over in Amsterdam on the street, and I basically live in the U.S. like a Dutch person,” said Don.
* Emily Zaal is a journalist in Wisconsin where she previously worked at WSAW NewsChannel 7. She received her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Groningen.
Caption: * Don Robbins in his home with a selection of his cherished Hague School Paintings.
