France and the Netherlands have signed a historic deal, acquiring two large Rembrandt portraits for 160 million euros ($245 million).

The two nations acquired the paintings from the French branch of the Rothschild family, one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the world.

The portraits, dating from 1634, are of prominent Dutchman Marten Soolmans and his future wife Oopjen Coppit, both wearing black with white lace on the eve of their marriage.

The agreement, signed by French culture minister Fleur Pellerin and her Dutch counterpart Jet Bussemaker, seals the multi-million-dollar deal agreed upon last year for two of the Dutch master's works.

The acquisition — costing the Louvre $92 million — is the largest ever made by a French museum.

The French culture ministry said the two works would be unveiled at the Louvre "in the coming weeks" before being shipped off to the Netherlands for restoration.

They will then be shared between the Paris museum and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, both of which house some of the largest public art collections in the world.

Over the past 150 years, the public was only able to catch a glimpse of the two valuable portraits during an exhibition organised in 1956.

The deal was reached after a series of twists and turns, after the Louvre turned down the Rothschilds' initial price in 2013.

AFP