Rijksmuseum MCP Server

1![rijksmuseum logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Logo_Rijksmuseum.svg/799px-Logo_Rijksmuseum.svg.png)
2 
3# Rijksmuseum MCP Server
4 
5A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides access to the Rijksmuseum's collection through natural language interactions. This server enables AI models to explore, analyze, and interact with artworks and collections from the Rijksmuseum.
6 
7<a href="https://glama.ai/mcp/servers/4rmiexp64y"><img width="380" height="200" src="https://glama.ai/mcp/servers/4rmiexp64y/badge" alt="Rijksmuseum Server MCP server" /></a>
8 
9## Features
10 
11The server provides several tools for interacting with the Rijksmuseum's collection:
12 
13### 1. Search Artworks (`search_artwork`)
14Search and filter artworks using various criteria including:
15- Text-based search
16- Artist name
17- Artwork type
18- Materials and techniques
19- Time periods
20- Colors
21- And more
22 
23### 2. Artwork Details (`get_artwork_details`)
24Retrieve comprehensive information about specific artworks, including:
25- Basic details (title, artist, dates)
26- Physical properties
27- Historical context
28- Visual information
29- Curatorial information
30- Exhibition history
31 
32### 3. High-Resolution Images (`get_artwork_image`)
33Access high-resolution image data with deep zoom capabilities:
34- Multiple zoom levels
35- Tile-based image loading
36- Full resolution support
37- Position information
38 
39### 4. User Collections (`get_user_sets` & `get_user_set_details`)
40Explore user-created collections:
41- Browse curated sets
42- View thematic groupings
43- Analyze collection patterns
44- Access detailed set information
45 
46### 5. Image Viewing (`open_image_in_browser`)
47Open artwork images directly in your browser for detailed viewing.
48 
49### 6. Artist Timeline (`get_artist_timeline`)
50Generate chronological timelines of artists' works:
51- Track artistic development
52- Analyze periods and styles
53- Study career progression
54 
55## Example Use Cases
56 
57Here are some example queries you can ask the AI when using this server:
58 
59### Artwork Discovery
60```
61"Show me all paintings by Rembrandt from the 1640s"
62"Find artworks that prominently feature the color blue"
63"What are the most famous masterpieces in the collection?"
64"Search for still life paintings from the Dutch Golden Age"
65```
66 
67### Artwork Analysis
68```
69"Tell me everything about The Night Watch"
70"What are the dimensions and materials used in Van Gogh's Self Portrait?"
71"Show me high-resolution details of the brushwork in Vermeer's The Milkmaid"
72"Compare the colors used in different versions of The Potato Eaters"
73```
74 
75### Artist Research
76```
77"Create a timeline of Rembrandt's self-portraits"
78"How did Van Gogh's use of color evolve throughout his career?"
79"Show me all works by Frans Hals in chronological order"
80"What techniques did Jan Steen use in his paintings?"
81```
82 
83### Thematic Exploration
84```
85"Find all artworks depicting biblical scenes"
86"Show me paintings of Amsterdam in the 17th century"
87"What artworks feature flowers or still life arrangements?"
88"Find portraits that include musical instruments"
89```
90 
91### Collection Analysis
92```
93"Show me the most popular user-curated collections"
94"Find sets that focus on landscape paintings"
95"What are the recent additions to the museum's collection?"
96"Show me collections featuring works from multiple artists"
97```
98 
99### Visual Details
100```
101"Let me examine the details in the background of The Night Watch"
102"Show me a close-up of the jewelry in Girl with a Pearl Earring"
103"Can you display the highest resolution version of The Jewish Bride?"
104"I want to study the facial expressions in The Syndics"
105```
106 
107## Getting Started
108 
109You can install this server in two ways:
110 
111### 1. Using Claude Desktop with NPM Package
112Update your Claude configuration file (`~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`):
113 
114```json
115{
116  "mcpServers": {
117    "rijksmuseum-server": {
118      "command": "npx",
119      "args": [
120        "-y",
121        "mcp-server-rijksmuseum"
122      ],
123      "env": {
124        "RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
125      }
126    }
127  }
128}
129```
130You can get an API key from the [Rijksmuseum API Portal](https://data.rijksmuseum.nl/docs/api/).
131 
132### 2. From Source
1331. Clone this repository
1342. Install dependencies:
135   ```bash
136   npm install
137   ```
1383. Copy the example environment file:
139   ```bash
140   cp .env.example .env
141   ```
1424. Add your Rijksmuseum API key to the `.env` file:
143   ```
144   RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
145   ```
1465. Then update your Claude configuration file:
147   ```json
148   {
149     "mcpServers": {
150       "rijksmuseum-server": {
151         "command": "node",
152         "args": [
153           "/path/to/rijksmuseum-server/build/index.js"
154         ],
155         "env": {
156           "RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
157         }
158       }
159     }
160   }
161   ```
162 
163Make sure to:
164- Replace `/path/to/rijksmuseum-server` with the actual path to your installation
165- Add your Rijksmuseum API key in the `env` section
166 
167After updating the configuration, restart Claude Desktop for the changes to take effect.
168 
169## Configuration
170 
171The server can be configured through environment variables:
172- `RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEY`: Your Rijksmuseum API key (required)
173- `PORT`: Server port (default: 3000)
174- `LOG_LEVEL`: Logging level (default: 'info')
175 
176## API Documentation
177 
178For detailed information about the Rijksmuseum API endpoints used by this server, visit:
179[Rijksmuseum API Documentation](https://data.rijksmuseum.nl/object-metadata/api/)
180 
181## Contributing
182 
183Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit pull requests or create issues for bugs and feature requests.
184 
185## License
186 
187This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
188