Rubenshuis
Vlaamse Gewest
Rubenshuis is the historic city residence and studio of the renowned Flemish Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens, located in Antwerp. Built and designed by Rubens himself around 1610 after his marriage, the house reflects Italian Renaissance palace architecture, featuring a monumental portico and a Flemish-Italian Renaissance style garden with a Baroque pavilion. It served both as Rubens' home and a large workshop where he and his pupils produced thousands of paintings, catering to European nobility. After Rubens' death in 1640, the house changed ownership and was eventually acquired by the city of Antwerp in 1937. Since 1946, it has operated as a museum displaying an outstanding collection of works by Rubens, his students, and contemporaries such as Anthony van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens. Visitors can explore Rubens' private living quarters, the grand atelier with early masterpieces like "Adam and Eve in Paradise" (1600), and the richly decorated garden. The museum also houses portraits of Rubens' grandparents and a notable "kunstkabinet" - a cabinet with small paintings. The Rubenshuis remains a unique cultural site illustrating the life, art, and influence of one of Flanders' greatest painters.
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Tip: The Rubenshuis museum is temporarily closed for renovations, but visitors can still enjoy the garden, the library, and the Rubens Experience. Planning your visit from 2024 onwards is recommended, as the entrance will move to a new building at Hopland 13. Buying tickets in advance is advisable once the museum reopens. Spring and early autumn offer pleasant weather for the garden visit. Check the official website for updated visitor information and possible discounts for students and seniors.
Interesting facts
- •Rubens designed his own city palace inspired by Italian Renaissance palaces.
- •The atelier produced around 25,000 paintings during Rubens' lifetime, a true 'painting factory'.
- •A full-scale reconstruction of the original Rubenshuis was exhibited at the 1910 Brussels World Exhibition.
- •The museum holds about 5000 letters written by Rubens in multiple languages including Dutch, French, Latin, and Italian.
- •The garden behind the Rubenshuis was laid out in Flemish-Italian Renaissance style and includes a Baroque pavilion.
History
Peter Paul Rubens commissioned the construction of his city palace in Antwerp in 1610, inspired by Italian Renaissance architecture, shortly after his marriage to Isabella Brant.
The residence included a large atelier and a garden designed in Flemish-Italian Renaissance style.
After Rubens' death in 1640, his widow lived there for some time, and the house was later divided and sold.
In 1910, a full-scale reconstruction model of the original Rubenshuis was showcased at the Brussels World Exhibition, sparking interest in its preservation.
The city of Antwerp acquired the property in 1937, and after restoration, it opened as a museum in 1946.
The museum has since preserved and displayed Rubens' legacy and Flemish Baroque art.
Place Guide
Grand Atelier
The large studio where Rubens and his pupils created thousands of paintings. It contains early works such as "Adam and Eve in Paradise" (1600) and the "Annunciation" (1628).
Private Living Quarters1610-1640
Rubens' personal rooms including the dining room, where his well-known self-portrait painted at around age fifty is displayed.
Renaissance GardenEarly 17th century
A garden designed in Flemish-Italian Renaissance style with flower beds, vegetable and fruit plots surrounded by low hedges, and a Baroque pavilion, architecturally integrated with the house.
Contact
Phone: 03 201 15 55
