Last week, in a setting as grand as the collection itself, Mulliner—Bentley’s bespoke and coachbuilding division—lifted the veil on an extraordinary new series: the Dutch Masters Collection. Unveiled at an exclusive evening event within the hallowed halls of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, this trio of one-off Continental GT models is a breathtaking homage to three of Holland’s most immortal artists: Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh.
It is an exhibition on wheels, where the meticulous craftsmanship of the 17th-century Golden Age and the expressive genius of the Post-Impressionist era are seamlessly woven into the contemporary canvas of the Continental GT.
For the Mulliner design team, this project was not about simply applying an image to a car; it was about immersing themselves in the color palettes, motifs, and very soul of each painter’s work. The result is a stunning blend of bespoke artistry and high-performance engineering.
1. The Rembrandt
The first commission, a Continental GT Convertible, draws its profound inspiration from Rembrandt van Rijn’s dramatic 1642 masterpiece, The Night Watch.
- Exterior: Finished in a deep Midnight Emerald, the car echoes the shadowy, rich tones of the painting’s background.
- Interior Details: The cabin’s hides of Magnolia and Cumbrian Green contrast with flashes of Hotspur Red accent hide—a direct nod to the striking red sash of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq, the painting’s central figure. Bespoke welcome lamps project a feather animation, referencing the plume on the Lieutenant’s hat, an intricate detail also replicated in the door card panels.
2. The Vermeer
Inspired by Johannes Vermeer, the master of light and tranquility from the Dutch Golden Age, the second car—a Continental GT—captures the serene, cool brilliance of his interiors.
- Exterior: A breathtaking Sapphire Satin finish, combined with a panoramic sunroof, is used to evoke the clear, crisp daylight that fills Vermeer’s famous scenes.
- Interior Details: The calming interior blends Beluga and Ocean Blue hides, punctuated by vibrant accents of Citric Yellow and bold Klein Blue piping. The ethereal cloud formations from his work, The Little Street, are immortalised in the welcome lamp animation and the design of the door cards, celebrating his genius for capturing natural light.
3. The Van Gogh
The final model in the collection, a Continental GT, takes its expressive energy and vibrant movement from the iconic The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh.
- Exterior: The exterior is painted in Dark Sapphire with a dynamic, fine Khamun Yellow pinstripe, mirroring the deep night sky and golden stars.
- Interior Details: The swirling, distinctive pattern of the night sky itself is used for the welcome lamp and bespoke etched door card panels. The interior is a powerful composition of Imperial Blue, Linen, and Khamun hides, with the gold of the stars echoed in the intricate gold knurled air-vent organ stops.
The Dutch Masters Collection reaffirms Mulliner’s position as the world’s foremost automotive coachbuilder. By treating each vehicle as a three-dimensional work of art, the team has not merely customised cars, but has forged a tangible connection between motoring and cultural history.
Each of these three unique Continental GTs showcases the boundless possibilities of Mulliner’s co-creation process, proving that for the discerning collector, the automotive canvas truly has no limits.
