Page 126 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

124  BEY OND BRUSSELS

Rubenshuis
Rubenshuis, on Wapper Square, was Pieter Paul Rubens’
home and studio for the last 29 years of his life, from 1611
to 1640. The city bought the premises just before World
War II, but by then the house was little more than a ruin,
and what can be seen today is the result of careful
restoration. It is divided into two sections. To the left of
the entrance are the narrow rooms of the artist’s living
quarters, equipped with period furniture. Behind this
part of the house is the kunst kamer, or art gallery, where Façade of Rubenshuis
Rubens exhibited both his own and other artists’ work, The older Flemish part of the house
sits next to the later house, whose
and entertained his friends and wealthy patrons, such as elegant early Baroque façade was
the Archduke Albert and the Infanta Isabella. To the right designed by Rubens.
of the entrance lies the main studio, a spacious salon
where Rubens worked on and displayed his paintings.
A signposted route guides visitors through the house.

Formal Gardens
The small garden is laid out formally and
its charming pavilion dates from Rubens’
time. He was influ enced by architects of
the Italian Renaissance when he built
the Italian Baroque addition to his house
in the 1620s.

KEY
1 The Familiakamer, or family
sitting room, is cosy and has a pretty
. Rubens’ Studio tiled floor. It overlooks Wapper
It is estimated that Rubens produced some 2,500 paintings Square.
in this large, high-ceilinged room. In the Renaissance
manner, Rubens designed the work which was usually 2 Chequered mosaic tiled floor.
completed by a team of other artists employed in his studio.

124-125_EW_Brussels.indd 124 10/01/17 10:55 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm