Dome

Raking view from Paulus Potterstraat; The Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, opened on 14 September 1895 as an initiative of the local authority and private individuals. The construction of the building was largely funded by Sophia Adriana de Bruyn, who also donated her art and antiques collection. It was always conceived of as a museum of "contemporary" art. The Dutch Neo-Renaissance style museum building was designed by Dutch architect Adriaan Willem Weissman, who was the architect for the city of Amsterdam during this period. The eclecticism that dominated late 19th-century Dutch architecture came naturally to Weissman, who favored the use of local brick with stone trim to achieve a lively, permanent polychromy. Differences of opinion over the construction of the Museum led to Weissman’s resignation shortly before its completion. It was closed during the restoration of 2004-2010. It reopened partially in 2010, but not fully until 2012 because the climate control systems were located in the new wing. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.oxfordartonline.com/ (accessed 6/5/2014)