Ithaca, N.Y.—Rembrandt Ripple ice cream, 17th Century lute

music, period poetry and 1,000 tulips; it’s Rembrandt’s

birthday and Ithaca is going Dutch.


Music, art, and ice cream are among the highlights this

spring as Cornell University and surrounding Ithaca

celebrate the opening of "Rembrandt at 400,” a surprising

new exhibit at Cornell’s Johnson Museum of Art. Running

April 1-June 18, the show offers a glimpse into the

artist’s least well-known works—his etchings.


Rembrandt created close to 300 etchings in his lifetime,

using them to pay for the exquisitely detailed oils he’s

famous for today. Etchings printed during his life are

rare, and several in the exhibit are on museum display for

the first time.


“We’re showcasing a facet of Rembrandt’s work that you

rarely see, and doing it in a way that’s definitely not

stuffy,” said Frank Robinson, Johnson Museum director and

exhibit curator. “We’ve created an exhibit that’s as

entertaining as it is informative.”


Entertainment takes center stage, May 7, when the museum

hosts a free Rembrandt birthday party, complete with Dutch

chocolate cake and “Rembrandt Ripple” ice cream. Created

for the event by the award-winning Cornell Dairy, the

signature flavor is an unforgettable blend of French

vanilla ice cream, sweet cherry swirl and rich dark-

chocolate chunks.


Other highlights include costumed appearances by Rembrandt

and his wife Saskia, performances of 17th Century Dutch

music and exhibit tours by Robinson, a noted Rembrandt

scholar. Visiting gardeners will also enjoy expert

presentations on Dutch tulips, followed by tours of the

Johnson gardens where more than 1,000 hybrid Rembrandt

Tulips were planted for the celebration.


Studios along Ithaca’s Art Trail are offering private

studio visits with local artists, and Ithaca’s kid-

friendly Sciencenter is presenting hands-on demonstrations

in the science of analyzing and restoring great works of

art. Area inns are involved as well with numerous

Rembrandt birthday packages. Lodging information is

available at VisitIthaca.com.


Cornell’s Johnson Museum is a spectacular I.M. Pei-

designed facility overlooking Cayuga Lake. Its world-

renowned collection fills six floors. Information is

available at www.museum.cornell.edu.


Located in New York’s Finger Lakes Region, less than a

day’s drive from everywhere in the metro Northeast, Ithaca

is a progressive community renowned for breathtaking gorge

waterfalls, outstanding recreation and world-class

thinking. Home to Cornell University and Ithaca College,

the city is famous for its shops, cultural amenities and

overabundance of top-quality restaurants. With 76 lodges,

more than 80 nearby wineries, three state parks and a busy

festival schedule, Ithaca is an ideal base for any Finger

Lakes vacation. For trip-planning information, contact the

Ithaca/Tompkins Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-28-

ITHACA, or VisitIthaca.com.


Contact:

Bruce Stoff

Marketing Communications Manager

Ithaca/Tompkins Convention & Visitors Bureau

(607) 272-1313

Bruce@visitithaca.com