The Museum Mayer van den Bergh in Antwerp is
a house full of art. Intriguing art that inspires
wonder and emotion. Today, the museum is internationally
renowned as the home of Pieter Bruegel
the Elder’s famous painting Mad Meg. To loyal fans,
it is a cherished, well-kept secret. Visitors always
marvel at how so much beauty was gathered in one
place. Who amassed this unique collection? And
how and why was this museum established?
The museum is a monument to two people:
Henriëtte Mayer van den Bergh (1838−1920) and
her son, Fritz Mayer van den Bergh (1858−1901).
Fritz, a man who took a keen interest in the Middle
Ages and the Renaissance, assembled the entire
collection. After Fritz’s untimely and unexpected
death, his mother Henriëtte had a new building
designed to hold his artworks. In so doing, she
succeeded in preserving this exceptional collection
in one place, while also keeping the memory of
her son alive.
This book explores the world of collectors, antiques
dealers, art historians and museum founders
during the belle époque. Ulrike Müller delves deep
into the archives to tell the story of the Museum
Mayer van den Bergh and its founders: their family
background, their international network, their
passions and their modus operandi.