‘At home in a museum. The story of Henriëtte and Fritz Mayer van den Bergh’ delves deeper into the origins and fascinating history of the Museum Mayer van den Bergh and its founders, Henriëtte en Fritz Mayer van den Bergh. The book, which contains lots of quotes and previously unpublished 19th-century photos, chronicles the Belle Epoque in Antwerp.
Henriëtte van den Bergh
At home in a museum. The story of Henriëtte and Fritz Mayer van den Bergh describes the extraordinary story behind the origins of the museum. It also pays tribute to Henriëtte Mayer van den Bergh (1838−1920) and Fritz Mayer van den Bergh (1858−1901). Fritz amassed the entire collection. After his untimely and unexpected death, his mother Henriëtte had the building erected as a repository for his artworks.
‘At home in a museum’ is the first publication to highlight the crucial role that Henriëtte van den Bergh played. Readers gain an insight into the family background of a mother and her son and their international network, their passions, and their modus operandi.
About the author
Ulrike Müller is an art historian specialising in the history of collections and museums in Belgium. She obtained her PhD in 2019 with a thesis on private collectors of art and antiques and their role in public cultural life in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent during the long 19th century (c. 1780-1914). She is currently employed as a researcher in the Museum Mayer van den Bergh. She is also a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Urban History at the University of Antwerp.
More information
Published in English and Dutch
Publisher: Hannibal Books
ISBN EN 978 94 6388 771 7
museummayervandenbergh.be