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.