Air France Cargo – KLM Cargo flies world famous Matisse to the Netherlands

On March 29, AF-KL Cargo flew ‘Danse’ – the world renowned paiting by French artist Henri Matisse – from the Hermitage in St. Petersburg to the Hermitage Amsterdam, where it can be viewed until 9 May.

The enormous painting is the central piece of the ‘Matisse to Malevich’ exhibition, running at the Hermitage Amsterdam until 17 September 2010.

AF-KL Cargo specially deployed one of its Boeing 747 combi carriers to transport this masterpiece – shipment measuring 4.22 meter by 2.9 meter – on main deck. From St Petersburg, the painting was supervised by various Dutch and Russian guests including Ernst Veen, curator of the Hermitage Amsterdam located on the Amstel. The group also included international journalists and camera crews.

André Mulder, AF-KL Cargo Vice President Special Cargo: “We have accumulated a wealth of experience when it comes to transporting artwork worldwide, but this still is a very special occasion. We are proud to ship this masterpiece from one the most famous museums in the world.”