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We've been in Belgium in September 2023 for ten very enjoyable and instructive days spent in Flanders, the Dutch speaking part of this country.

After three days on the coast to visit Bruges, we based ourselves in Dendermonde and explored the cities of Ghent and Antwerp plus a day trip to Brussels.

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Path: Photos > Antwerp Major Museums > Antwerp: the Mayer van den Bergh Museum
Tags: Belgium  2023  News  Museum

Antwerp: the Mayer van den Bergh Museum

 

(vero;2023-Oct-29)

The museum is home to the art collection of Fritz Mayer van den Bergh. Born in 1858 in a wealthy family, he was the eldest son of two. When their father died in 1879, his younger brother Oscar took over the family business (trading spices and drugs) while Fritz, aged 21, having inherited a large sum broke off his law studies and moved to his mother who shared his passion for art. He spent most of his life building up a massive collection, becoming a respected art historian along the way. He died relatively young aged 43 from a riding accident without having fulfilled his dream of setting up his own museum. His collection passed to his mother who made his dream come true: in just three years she had a house built solely for this purpose and acted as curator of the collection. Click here to read more about the man (and his mother).

We liked the museum so much that we visited twice in our three-day visit. Practical information on opening hours and ticket prices can be found here.

Portraits of the Vekemans Family by Cornelis de Vos (1625). On top: Joris Vekemans and his wife Maria. Below from left to right: the children Frans, Cornelia and Elizabeth. Joris Vekemans (1590-1625) was a wealthy Antwerp businessman who died relatively young; his wife Mary survived him by 40 years.
Adoration of the shepherds by Jacob (I) Jordaens (17th century).  Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of "Job seated on a heap of manure" by Peter Paul Rubens (1650).  Click here for a full view of the painting. Tempera on wood representing Mary enthroned with Christ Child by Simeone and Machilone of Spoleto (1270s). The portrait is framed by two columns, each containing two quadrants with scenes of Mary's life: the Birth of Mary top left, the Annunciation bottom left, the Ascension top right and the Birth of Christ bottom right. Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of Mary with Child enthroned by the Master of the Magdalene Legend (1490s).  Click here for a full view of the painting. Triptych showing from left to right: Hieronymus, Christopher and Anthony by the Master of the figures of the Saints (1510s). Click here for a full view of the triptych. Detail of Christopher carrying the Christ Child (see previous picture). Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of the Christ Child on Christopher's shoulders (see picture #6). Click here for a full view of the painting. Triptych showing Mary with Child. She is sitting with Christ Child on her lap in company of Mary Magdalene and Agnes in the central panel. The left panel features Catherine of Alexandria while the right one shows Barbara (anonymous, ±1510). Click here for a full view of the triptych. Detail of the Martyrdom of Erasmus of Formia, also known as Saint Elmo (anonymous, 1500). Click here for a full view of the painting. Triptych showing from left to right Catherine of Alexandria, Mary with Child and Barbara by the Master of the Magdalene Legend (1500). Click here for a full view of the triptych. Detail of Dulle Griet (Mad Meg) by Pieter (I) Bruegel (1563). Griet is a figure of the Flemish folklore (Ghent), a peasant woman who led an army of women in order to loot Hell. She is seen advancing towards the mouth of Hell, wearing an armour and already carrying some loot. Behind her (not on the photo, click here for a full view of the painting) is a crowd of smaller women wreaking havoc while on the bottom right soldiers are arriving timidly on the scene. Detail of Dulle Griet (Mad Meg) by Pieter (I) Bruegel (1563). Here, Griet is heading towards the mouth of Hell, confronting demons (reminiscent of the creatures by Hieronymus Bosch) surging from Hell and representing the sins which shall be punished. Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of Dulle Griet (Mad Meg) by Pieter (I) Bruegel (1563). Click here for a full view of the painting. Retable showing Mary with Child, Catherine of Alexandria and Barbara in the central panel. The left panel shows Mary Magdalene and the right one Agnes (anonymous, 1500). Click here for a full view of the retable. Detail of a retable (see previous picture). This figure in the central panel is Catherine of Alexandria holding an open book in her left hand and a sword (vanished) in her right hand; the emperor Maxentius can be seen at her feet holding a small wheel. Click here for a full view of the retable. Detail of the Lamentation of Christ by Vrancke van der Stockt (4th quarter 15th century). Mary Magdalen is the woman in blue standing behind John the Baptist. Click here for a full view of the painting. The Birth of Christ (anonymous, 1380). Click here for a full view of the painting. Ivory sculpture of Mary nursing the Christ Child (anonymous, 1335-40). Click here for a full view of the sculpture. Detail of the Adoration of the Magi by the Master of Southern West Flanders (1515-30). Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of the Census at Bethlehem by Pieter (II) Bruegel (±1610). It is a copy from the original painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1566) which can be seen at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels. Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of the Census at Bethlehem by Pieter (II) Bruegel (±1610). People are crowding in front of a house where a scribe is taking down their details. A pig is being slaughtered in the bottom part, its blood being collected in a pan, while an other one is being led to its fate out of the house. Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of the Census at Bethlehem by Pieter (II) Bruegel (±1610) showing village scenes with people going after their business and children skating on ice or fighting with snowballs. Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of the Census at Bethlehem by Pieter (II) Bruegel (±1610). The two characters in the front are the pregnant Mary riding on a donkey led by Joseph and making their way to the building where the census is held. Click here for a full view of the painting. Lower part of The temptation of St Anthony by Pieter Huys (1577). This photo is a panorama, click the cross on the right below the photo (or press F if viewing on a desktop) to expand it to its real size and use the bottom scroll bar to navigate through it. Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of The temptation of St Anthony by Pieter Huys (1577). Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of The Fight between Carnival and Lent (after Hieronymus Bosch, 2nd half of 16th century). Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of the Parable of the Prodigal Son by Frans (I) Pourbus (16th century). Click here for a full view of the painting. Portrait of François van der Straten by Pieter Pourbus and Jan Jacobsz Doudijn (1567). François van der Straten was a lawyer and a leading authority in the Liberty of Bruges (an administrative, financial, and judicial body established in the early 12th century managing the region and towns around Bruges - but not Bruges itself). Click here for a full view of the painting. Catherine by Lucas (I) Cranach (1st half 16th century). Click here for a full view of the painting. Oak statue of St Catherine of Alexandria (anonymous, 1510-15). Click here for a full view of the sculpture. Oak statue of Matthew (anonymous, ±1370). Click here for a full view of the sculpture. Alabaster sculpture of the Christ of Sorrows (anonymous, 1460s). Click here for a full view of the sculpture. Detail of an alabaster sculpture showing the Capture of Christ (anonymous, 1300-24). Click here for a full view of the sculpture. Retable of the Passion by Jan (III) Borreman (1500-15). Left panel: the Carrying of the Cross with Veronica. Central panel: the Calvary with John the Baptist (spot him with his blond curly hair) and the three Marys (Mary mother of Christ, Mary Magdalene and Mary of Clopas). Right panel: the Lamentation with John the Baptist and Mary. Click here for a full view of the retable. Detail of the right panel of the Retable of the Passion (see previous picture): the Lamentation. Mary is holding her child on her lap while Mary Magdalene is kneeling and holding Christ's hand; John the Baptist with his blond hair and Mary of Clopas are standing in the background. Click here for a full view of the retable. Peasant company by the fireplace by Pieter Aertsen (1556). Click here for a full view of the painting. Mary with Child (anonymous, ±1510). Click here for a full view of the painting.

Go back to Antwerp Major Museums or go on to Antwerp: the Snijders and Rockox House or go up to Antwerp Major Museums


$ updated from: Antwerp Major Museums.htxt Fri 16 Aug 2024 15:40:18 trvl2 — Copyright © 2024 Vero and Thomas Lauer unless otherwise stated | All rights reserved $