The Mondrian House museum in Amersfoort has bought nine early works by the Dutch artist for an undisclosed amount.

The museum had been concerned that the works would be sold when their owner, an heir of art collector J.F.S. Esser, died. The works have been on loan to the museum, Mondrian’s parental home, since 2010.

‘It is extraordinary that we have been able to buy no fewer than nine works and these will now stay at the Mondrian House for ever,’ director Paul Baltus said.

The paintings and drawings in question were made between 1899 and 1908, a few years before Mondrian (1872-1944) went to Paris and embarked on the abstract work that was to make him famous.

They show his skills as an accomplished draughtsman, depicting such traditional subject matter as farms, landscapes, flowers and portraits.

Esser, who was a doctor and a businessman, had painters like George Hendrik Breither and Jan Sluijter among his patients and through them met other promising artists, Mondrian among them.

At one point his collection comprised 800 works, including 80 by Mondrian. Most of these were divided among his heirs.

The works will be the subject of a special exhibition from February 15.