At Home in a Museum

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.