View source for Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp

{{short description|Art museum in Antwerp, Belgium}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox museum
| name            = Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp
| native_name     = Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen
| native_name_lang = nl
| image           = Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten (Antwerpen).jpg
|caption=Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten
|mapframe=yes
|mapframe-caption=Interactive fullscreen map
|mapframe-zoom=12
|mapframe-marker=museum
|mapframe-wikidata=yes
|coordinates={{WikidataCoord|display=it}}
| established     = 1810
| location        = [[Antwerp]], [[Belgium]]
| type            = [[Art museum]]
| key_holdings    = [[Flemish painting]]
| publictransit   =
| website         = {{official URL}}
}}
The '''Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp''' ([[Dutch language|Dutch]]: ''Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen''; '''KMSKA''') is a  museum in [[Antwerp]], Belgium, founded in 1810, that houses a collection of [[painting]]s, [[sculpture]]s and [[drawing]]s from the fourteenth to the twentieth centuries. This collection is representative of the artistic production and the taste of art enthusiasts in Antwerp, Belgium and the [[Dutch Republic|Northern]] and [[Southern Netherlands]] since the 15th century.
The [[neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] building housing the collection is one of the primary landmarks of the [[Zuid (Antwerp)|Zuid]] district of Antwerp. The majestic building was designed by [[Jean-Jacques Winders]] (1849–1936) and [[Frans Van Dijk]] (1853–1939), built beginning in 1884, opened in 1890, and completed in 1894.  Sculpture on the building includes two bronze figures of [[Pheme]] with horse-drawn chariots by sculptor [[Thomas Vincotte]], and seven rondel medallions of artists that include [[Boetius à Bolswert]], [[Frans Floris]], [[Jan van Eyck]], [[Peter Paul Rubens]], [[Quentin Matsys]], [[Erasmus Quellinus II]], and Appelmans, separated by four monumental sculptures representing ''Architecture, Painting, Sculpture'', and ''Graphics''.
The building stands in gardens bounded by the Leopold de Waalplaats, the Schildersstraat, the Plaatsnijdersstraat, and the Beeldhouwersstraat, formerly the site of the [[Antwerp Citadel]].
== History ==
The museum's collection began with the artworks owned by the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke, which was active from the late 14th century to 1773. When the guild disbanded, its gallery of paintings went to the [[Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Antwerp)|Academy of Fine Arts]], which had been founded in 1663 with the involvement of [[David Teniers the Younger|David Teniers]]. The gallery had works by Peter Paul Rubens, [[Jacob Jordaens]], and [[Cornelis de Vos]]. During French occupations in 1794 and 1796, art was looted from churches and other buildings in Antwerp; the pieces that were later recovered became part of the museum's collection. By 1817 the museum listed 127 items in its catalogue, mostly dating to the mid-16th and 17th centuries, with Rubens at the heart of the collection.<ref>Marechals, Els and de Jong, Leen. Introduction ("The History of the Royal Museum in Antwerp"). ''The Royal Museum in Antwerp''.</ref>
[[William I of the Netherlands]] helped the museum in various ways. In 1823 he donated three paintings, including an early work by [[Titian]]—''[[:commons:File:Jacopo Pesaro presented to St. Peter by Pope Alexander VI - Tizian-2.jpg|Pope
Alexander IV presents Jacopo Pesaro to Saint Peter]]''—which became the museum's first foreign piece. He decreed a grant of 20,000 guilders to build the collection's contemporary art in 1827, but the [[Belgian Revolution]] interfered. Only in 1873 did the museum begin to acquire living artists' works.
A significant [[bequest]] from a former mayor of Antwerp, Florent van Ertborn, added 141 works to the collection in 1840.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-24 |title=Florent ridder van Ertborn, gouverneur van Utrecht 1828-1830 |url=https://www.oud-utrecht.nl/nieuws/1287-florent-ridder-van-ertborn-gouverneur-van-utrecht-1828-1830 |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Oud Utrecht |language=nl-nl}}</ref> Van Ertborn had collected [[Early Netherlandish painting|Early Netherlandish art]] at a time when it was out of favour, but in the long run this addition ensured the museum's reputation. These works included Jan van Eyck's ''[[Saint Barbara (van Eyck)|Saint Barbara]]'' and ''[[Madonna at the Fountain]]'' and Rogier van der Weyden's ''[[Diptych of Philip de Croÿ with The Virgin and Child|Portrait of Philip de Croy]]'' (half of a diptych) and the [[Seven Sacraments Altarpiece]]. Also in the bequest were paintings by Hans Memling, Dieric Bouts, Joachim Patinir, Quinten Massys, Jean Fouquet, Simone Martini, Antonello da Messina, and Lucas Cranach.
The museum closed to the public for major renovations at the end of 2011, reopening on 24 September 2022 after 11 years of work.<ref>{{cite news |title=LIVE. Antwerps topmuseum KMSKA heropent feestelijk na elf jaar verbouwen: volg hier hét culturele hoogtepunt van 2022 |url=https://m.gva.be/cnt/dmf20220921_93775549 |access-date=24 September 2022 |publisher=gva.be |date=24 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kmska.be/en/renovation|title=The renovation of the museum &#124; KMSKA|website=www.kmska.be}}</ref> The museum has been expanded with a new hall for modern art.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Siegal |first=Nina |date=2022-09-20 |title=The Royal Museum With a White-Cube Gallery Inside |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/20/arts/design/kmska-royal-museum-of-fine-arts-in-antwerp.html |access-date=2022-09-26 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
== Collections ==
[[Image:Fouquet Madonna.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Jean Fouquet]], ''Virgin and Child Surrounded by Angels'']]
[[image:Hans Memling 054 small.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Hans Memling]], ''[[Portrait of a man with a Roman medal|Portrait of a Man with a Roman medal]]'']]
[[Image:0 L'Éducation de Marie - P.P. Rubens - Musée royal des beaux-arts à Anvers (2).JPG|thumb|150px|''The Education of Mary'' by [[Peter Paul Rubens]].]]
Artists exhibited in the museum include:
*15th century
** [[Jan van Eyck]]
** [[Jean Fouquet]]
** [[Rogier van der Weyden]]
** [[Hans Memling]]
*16th century:
** [[Frans Floris|Frans Floris de Vriendt]]
** [[Quinten Metsijs]]
** [[Joachim Patinir]]
** [[Marten de Vos]]
** [[Gillis Coignet]]
*17th century:
**[[Erasmus de Bie]]
** [[Jan Brueghel the Elder]]
** [[Anthony van Dyck]]
** [[Frans Hals]]
** [[Jacob Jordaens]]
** [[Theodoor Rombouts]]
** [[Peter Paul Rubens]]
*19th century:
** [[James Ensor]]
** [[Auguste Rodin]]
** [[Henry van de Velde]]
** [[Fernand Khnopff]]
** [[Alexandre Cabanel]], ''[[Cleopatra Testing Poisons on Condemned Prisoners]]''
*20th century:
** [[Pierre Alechinsky]]
** [[René Magritte]]
** [[Jacob Smits]]
** [[Gustave Van de Woestijne]]
** [[Rik Wouters]]
== Collection highlights ==
<gallery heights=150 mode=packed>
Saint Barbara of Nicodemia - Jan van Eyck - 1437.jpg|''[[Saint Barbara (van Eyck)|Saint Barbara of Nicomedia]]'' by [[Jan van Eyck]]. 1437
Madonna omringd door serafijnen en cherubijnen, Jean Fouquet, (1454-1456), Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 132.jpg|''[[Melun Diptych|Virgin and Child Surrounded by Angels]]'' by [[Jean Fouquet]]. {{Circa|1454}}
Philippe de Croy, Rogier van der Weyden, (1460), Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 254.jpg|''[[Diptych of Philip de Croÿ with The Virgin and Child|Portrait of Philippe I de Croÿ]]'' by [[Rogier van der Weyden]]. 1460
Christus met zingende en musicerende engelen, Hans Memling, (1483-1494), Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 778.jpg|''[[Christ Surrounded by Singing and Music-making Angels|God the Father with Singing and Music-making Angels]]'' by [[Hans Memling]]. {{Circa|1483}}
Quinten Massijs (I) - Biddende Maria - 242 - Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.jpg|''[[Biddende Maria]]'' by [[Quentin Matsys]]. {{Circa|1505}}
Jacopo Pesaro, bisschop van Paphos, door paus Alexander VI Borgia voorgesteld aan de heilige Petrus, Titiaan, (1503-1510), Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 357.jpg|''[[Jacopo Pesaro being presented by Pope Alexander VI to Saint Peter|Jacopo Pesaro, bishop of Paphos, being presented by Pope Alexander VI to Saint Peter]]'' by [[Titian]]. 1503 - 1510
Landschap met de vlucht naar Egypte, Joachim Patinir, (1516-1517), Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 64.jpg|''[[Landscape with the Flight into Egypt (Patinir)|Landscape with the Flight into Egypt]]'' by [[Joachim Patinir]]. {{Circa|1515}}
Rust tijdens de vlucht naar Egypte, Gerard David, 16de eeuw, Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 47FXD.jpg|''[[Rest on the Flight into Egypt (David, Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp)|Rest on the Flight into Egypt]]'' by [[Gerard David]]. 16th century
Portret van een man, Maarten van Heemskerck, 16de eeuw, Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 564.jpg|''[[Portrait of a Man (Van Heemskerck)|Portrait of a Man]]'' by [[Maarten van Heemskerck]]. 16th century
Lucas Cranach d.Ä. - Caritas (Koninklijk Museum v. Schone Kunsten Antwerpen).jpg|''[[Caritas (Lucas Cranach the Elder)]]'' by [[Lucas Cranach the Elder]]. {{Circa|1537}}
Frans Floris (I) - Het oordeel van Salomo, de twee moeders komen voor Salomo en ruziën met elkaar (1 Koningen 3-16-22) - 663 - Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.jpg|''[[The Judgement of Solomon]]'' by [[Frans Floris]]. {{Circa|1547}}
Frans Floris - The Fall of the Rebellious Angels - WGA7947.jpg|''[[The Fall of the Rebel Angels (Floris)|The Fall of the Rebel Angels]]'' by Frans Floris. 1554
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) - Venus frigida (1611) - kmska 001 28-02-2010 14-30-37.jpg|''[[Venus Frigida]]'' by [[Peter Paul Rubens]]. 1611
De verloren zoon, Peter Paul Rubens, (1618), Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 781.jpg|''[[The Prodigal Son (painting, Rubens)|The Prodigal Son]]'' by [[Peter Paul Rubens]]. 1618
Aanbidding door de koningen, Peter Paul Rubens, (1624), Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 298.jpg|''[[Adoration of the Magi (Rubens, Antwerp)|Adoration of the Magi]]'' by Peter Paul Rubens. {{Circa|1626}}
Anthony van Dyck - The Lamentation of Christ - WGA07441.jpg|''[[Deposition (van Dyck, 1635)|The Lamentation over the dead Christ]]'' by [[Anthony van Dyck]]. {{Circa|1635}}
Rembrandt van Rijn - De predikant Eleazar Swalmius, 1637 (KMSKA).jpg|''[[The Preacher Eleazar Swalmius]]'' by [[Rembrandt]]. 1637
Zoals de ouden zongen, piepen de jongen, Jacob Jordaens I, 1638, Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 677.jpg|''[[As the Old Sang, So the Young Pipe (Jordaens, Antwerp)|The Old Folks Sing, The Young Folks Pipe]]'' by [[Jacob Jordaens]]. 1638
Michaelina woutiers-santas ines y dorotea.jpg|''[[Two Girls as Saint Agnes and Saint Dorothea]]'' by [[Michaelina Wautier]]. {{Circa|1650}}
Stephanus Geraerdts, schepen in Haarlem, Frans Hals I, (1650-1652), Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 674.jpg|''[[Portrait of Stephan Geraedts, Husband of Isabella Coymans]]'' by [[Frans Hals]]. 1650-1652
Philips Wouwerman - The Rider's Halting Place.jpg|''[[The Rider's Halting Place]]'' by [[Philips Wouwerman]]. 17th century
Nicolaes Maes - Portrait of a Seated Woman.jpg|''[[Portrait of a Seated Woman]]'' by [[Nicolaes Maes]]. 1676
Kmska Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (1780-1867) - Zelfportret (1864) - 28-02-2010 13-37-05.jpg|''[[Self-Portrait (Ingres)|Self portrait]]'' by [[Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres]]. {{Circa|1864}}
De intrige, James Ensor, 1890, Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 1856.002.jpeg|''[[The Intrigue (painting)|The Intrigue]]'' by [[James Ensor]]. 1890
Alfred Stevens - (1823-1906) - De Parijse sfinks (1867) - kmska 001 28-02-2010 15-06-35.jpg|''[[The Parisian Sphinx]]'' by [[Alfred Stevens (painter)|Alfred Stevens]]. 1875–1877
De man in de stoel, Henri De Braekeleer, (1875), Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 1845.jpg|''[[The Man in the Chair]]'' by [[Henri de Braekeleer]]. 1875
James Ensor (1884) - De daken van Oostende 001.jpg|''[[The Rooftops of Ostend]]'' by James Ensor. 1884
Vincent van Gogh - Aardappelrooister.jpg|''[[Peasant Woman Digging Up Potatoes]]'' by [[Vincent van Gogh]]. 1885
Kmska Théo Van Rysselberghe (1862-1926) - Mevrouw Henry Van de Velde-Sèthe (1921) - 28-02-2010 13-11-02.jpg|''[[Maria Sèthe at the Harmonium|Maria Sèthe, Afterwards Madame Henry Vande Velde]]'' by [[Théo van Rysselberghe]]. {{Circa|1891}}
De strijkster, Rik Wouters, (1912), Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 1932.jpg|''[[De strijkster|Ironing]]'' by [[Rik Wouters]]. 1912
Zittend naakt, Amedeo Modigliani, (1917), Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, 2060.jpg|''[[Seated Nude (1917)|Sitting Nude]]'' by [[Amedeo Modigliani]]. 1917
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[Pride and Joy: Children's Portraits in The Netherlands 1500-1700]] art exhibition held by the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp in 2001
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.kmska.be/en }} {{in lang|en}}
*[https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/kmska?hl=en Virtual tour of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts] provided by [[Google Arts & Culture]]
*{{commons category-inline}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Museums in Antwerp]]
[[Category:Art museums and galleries in Belgium]]
[[Category:Art museums and galleries established in 1810]]
[[Category:Museums established in 1894]]
[[Category:Collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp| ]]
[[Category:1810 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Belgium with royal patronage]]
[[Category:19th-century establishments in the Southern Netherlands]]