The Snijders&Rockox House ( nl, Snijders&Rockoxhuis) is a museum in Antwerp,

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

. It is located in two neighbouring townhouses formerly owned by the artist

Frans Snyders Frans Snyders or Frans Snijders (11 November 1579, Antwerp – 19 August 1657, Antwerp) was a Flemish painter of animals, hunting scenes, market scenes and still lifes. He was one of the earliest specialist animaliers and he is credited with ...

(1579–1657) and the mayor Nicolaas Rockox (1560–1640). It is owned by KBC Bank and showcases a collection of 16th century art.

History

The house was rebuilt for

Nicolaas II Rockox Nicolaas Rockox (1560–1640), was a mayor of Antwerp. He was a close personal friend and important patron of Peter Paul Rubens. His residence in Antwerp is now a museum known as the Rockox House. He was knighted by Archduke Albert and Isabel ...

, lord Mayor of Antwerp. He had different houses united in 1603, and restored in Renaissance style. It was his principal residence which he used for business and it was built in baroque style. A few of Rubens' most famous artworks were specially designed for this residence, among them ''

Samson and Delilah Samson and Delilah are Biblical figures. Samson and Delilah may also refer to: In music * ''Samson and Delilah'' (opera), an opera by Camille Saint-Saëns * ''Samson & Delilah'' (album), released in 2013 by V V Brown * "Samson and Delilah" (t ...

''. The Rockox family sold the estate in 1715 to benefit the poor: the house became property of the KBC Bank, in 1970 and it is used as a public museum.

Architecture

The house is a typical example of the architecture that was popular with the bourgeoisie of the early 17th century in Antwerp. It has an inner garden with fine herbs, and has features of an Italian pallazo.

Collection

The current rooms are ornated with the

Old Master In art history, "Old Master" (or "old master")Old Masters De ...

collection of KBC Bank. This collection is put permanently on display, like the paintings would be presented in the 17th century. However, this collection is not the historic collection as owned by the Rockox family. Besides paintings the current KBC collection includes important engravings, sculptures and textiles. Artists whose works are on display include Jan Fyt, Cornelis Massijs,

Peter Paul Rubens Sir Peter Paul Rubens (; ; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat from the Duchy of Brabant in the Southern Netherlands (modern-day Belgium). He is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradi ...

Jan Sanders van Hemessen Jan Sanders van Hemessen (c. 1500 – c. 1566) was a leading Flemish Renaissance painter, belonging to the group of Italianizing Flemish painters called the Romanists, who were influenced by Italian Renaissance painting. Van Hemessen had vi ...

Hans III Jordaens Hans III Jordaens (1590 – 1643), was a Flemish Baroque painter. Biography According to the RKD his birth year and place is uncertain. He could have been born in Delft as a son of Hans Jordaens, or he may have been born in Antwerp as a rela ...

, Jacob Jordaens,

Maerten de Vos Maerten de Vos, Maerten de Vos the Elder or Marten de Vos (1532 – 4 December 1603)Maerten de Vos
at the Net ...

, David Teniers,

Quentin Matsys Quentin Matsys ( nl, Quinten Matsijs) (1466–1530) was a Flemish painter in the Early Netherlandish tradition. He was born in Leuven. There is a tradition alleging that he was trained as an ironsmith before becoming a painter. Matsys was activ ...

Joachim Patinir Joachim Patinir, also called Patenier (c. 1480 – 5 October 1524), was a Flemish Renaissance painter of history and landscape subjects. He was Flemish, from the area of modern Wallonia, but worked in Antwerp, then the centre of the art market ...

Lucas Faydherbe Lucas Faydherbe (also spelled Lucas Faijdherbe; he signed as Lucas Fayd'herbe) (Mechelen, 19 January 1617 – Mechelen, 31 December 1697)Paulus Pontius Paulus Pontius (May 1603 in Antwerp – 16 January 1658 in Antwerp) was a Flemish engraver and painter. He was one of the leading engravers connected with the workshop of Peter Paul Rubens. After Rubens' death, Pontus worked with other leadin ...

and Lambert Lombard.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rockox House Museums in Antwerp Historic house museums in Belgium

History

Architecture

Collection

See also

References

External links