June 2002 - Antwerp, Belgium Travel Guide

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Summer Art Events

Antonello da Messina (ca.1430-1479), Calvarie, 1475. Photo Credit: © Antwerpen, Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen.










The group of painters known as the "Vlaamse Primitieven", or "Flemish Primitives" in English, are perhaps the most influential artists to come from this country. Living during the late Middle Ages/early Renaissance, they introduced a new way of painting dimensions, thus giving their work a much more life-like, realistic outlook then any European art since the collapse of the Roman empire. They were also some of the first to use oil paint. Antwerp, being one of Europe's most important international trade centres at the time, brought them in contact with their Italian contemporaries.

This summer, from the 14th of June to the 18th of August, Antwerp will host three exhibitions on these Flemish Primitives, called "Heerlijke Primitieven" (www.heerlijkeprimitieven.be)

Meestertekeningen van Jan van Eyck tot Hiëronymus Bosch
(Master drawings from Jan van Eyck until Hiëronymus Bosch)
Location: Rubenshuis, Wapper 9-11
Open Tuesday-Sunday 10-17, Thursday 10-21
Content: about 50 drawings from Flemish artists (the grand-masters Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, Hugo van der Goes, Hiëronymus Bosch and their followers) between 1425 and 1510. Since most of these are not usually to be seen by the general audience, this is a unique opportunity to get to see them.

Jan van Eyck is most certainly one of the finest Flemish painters. His paintings are unusually realistic and detailed, especially for that age, the early 15th century. Some of his most famous paintings can be seen at the St. Baafs cathedral in Gent (45 minutes from Antwerp by train).
Hiëronymus Bosch, referred to by Carl Gustav Jung as being "The master of the monstrous... the discoverer of the unconscious", was also a great master of details. Some of his paintings that look rather normal at first sight, when studied more closely reveal tiny fantastic scenes, hidden e.g. in the collar of someone's coat. Most of his paintings deal with hell, monsters and other dark subjects.

You can find some pictures of the drawings, and some further explanation, here.

De schatkamer van Mayer van den Bergh
(The Treasury of Mayer van den Bergh)
Location: Museum Mayer van den Bergh, Lange Gasthuisstraat 19
Open Tuesday-Sunday 10-17
Content: 21 paintings from the 14th and 15th century, and a presentation of scientific methods (to date paintings etc.)

The Museum Mayer van den Bergh, one of Antwerp's lesser-known museums, is named after Fritz Mayer van den Bergh, a 19th-century art collector. It contains paintings, statues, drawings, lacework, manuscripts and other types of art. The most impressive piece is Bruegel's painting Dulle Griet (Mad Meg).

Van Jan van Eyck tot Hans Memling
(from Jan van Eyck to Hans Memling)
Location: Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Leopold Dewaelplaats
Open Tuesday-Sunday 10-17, Wednesday 10-21
Content: Some 50 paintings from the museum's permanent collection, as well as some pieces loaned especially for this exhibition.

Also you can visit the ongoing restoration of Hans Memling's Christ with singing and music-making angels at the restoration workshop (until 2005). German-born Hans Memling, who lived in the 15th century, is mainly known as a portrait-painter. He also made many religious paintings, often depicting scenes from the life of Christ and/or the Virgin Mary. He was strongly influenced by Rogier van der Weyden.

Ticket Prices
Rubenshuis (also includes entrance to Museum Mayer Van den Bergh): 8 Euro; students and people over 60: 5 Euro; under 18: free.

Museum Mayer van den Bergh: 4 Euro; students and people over 60: 2 Euro; under 18: free.

Koninklijk Museum Schone Kunsten: 5 Euro; students and over 60: 4 Euro; under 18: free.

Combined ticket for all 3 museums: 11 Euro; students and over 60: 8 Euro; under 18: free.

For reservations or more info, call +32 (0) 70 233 799.

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our Europe Insiders page.

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