University receives valuable artworks donated by former professor Lapré

Emeritus professor Ruud Lapré and his wife Marga Lapré have donated part of their art collection to Erasmus University. The works are mainly by artists from the Cobra group such as Karel Appel, Corneille and Constant. The donation consists of 59 works with an estimated value of 300,000 euros.

Lapré was professor of Health Economics until 2002 and co-founder of the Institute of Health Policy & Management, now ESHPM. Alongside his academic work, he and his wife became avid art collectors from the mid-1990s onwards.

No need to buy a ticket

Now that they are both of an advanced age, they decided to donate their art collection in parts to places where the works can be appreciated to their fullest. In addition to Erasmus University, hospitals and healthcare institutions have also received donations. The couple deliberately chooses to donate to institutions where as many people as possible can encounter the works without having to buy a ticket.

On Tuesday, the Lapré couple signed the agreement for the handover in the office of Executive Board president Annelien Bredenoord. In total, 33 works have been donated to the university and 26 to the Rotterdamsch Leeskabinet. The latter donation mainly consists of prints. On the EUR website you can see a selection of the donation.

“We are giving everything away”, says Ruud Lapré, who, despite being in his mid-80s and in fragile health, appears in good spirits after the official transfer. “But we do want our artworks to end up in the right place, where they can have the greatest impact. Art should be public and not disappear into storage, or into a safe in Dubai. We think it is important that an artist continues to be seen and known.” When asked, Lapré indicates that this donation may not be the last the couple makes to the university.

Sweet landscape

Head of Art Affairs Anne Clement-van Vugt says she is ‘grateful’ that the Lapré couple has made this special donation to the university. The works were selected in consultation with the Lapré family and the Art Affairs department. They were already brought to the university a year ago.

The choice for works from, among others, the Cobra group is because the university already has comparable works in its collection and these pieces best suit the university environment. “A painting of a sweet landscape would not come into its own here”, Ruud Lapré explains. In passing during the meeting, he remarks that the university could do more with art in teaching students.

The donated artworks fall under the management of the Art Affairs department and are in principle intended to be visible in the university’s public spaces, meaning they can be lent. Consideration is given to the vulnerability of works to light and climate. The more valuable pieces are only displayed in locations where someone is always present and that can be secured.