Rubens House

The house of Rubens
Today, the Rubens House is the place where you can be closest to the universe of the greatest baroque artist north of the Alps. Peter Paul Rubens spent twenty-five years of his life in this palatial setting with his family and this is where he created the lion’s share of his oeuvre. He entertained many distinguished guests and stored his impressive art collection there. As was the case during Rubens’ lifetime, the house and its famous inhabitant still appeal to the imagination of visitors from all over the world. This is because of the attractive splendour of the house and garden and its rich history. And also with the genius loci – the spirit of the place – of this artist’s home.

Building and site
The Rubens House is more than just an art collection accommodated in a house. The architecture and the garden are also essential parts of the story of the Rubens House. Rubens bought the land together with the house in 1610. He had returned from Italy two years prior, as he was now receiving more and more orders he decided to settle permanently in Antwerp Following his design, the house was extended with studios and a porch, which were not completed until around 1617. During the renovations he lived, with his wife Isabella Brant and their children, with his parents-in-law in the Kloosterstraat.

In the newly built part of the house, you’ll find clear references to Rubens’ artistic ideals: classical antiquity and Italian art. The baroque building, with its rich and antique-inspired decorations, was unparalleled in Antwerp at the time. Rubens’ interventions – the studio facade, triumph arch and garden landscaping – gave the house the appearance of a ‘palazzo’, thus supporting its representative function. Rubens was in the highest circles during his lifetime and entertained several royal visitors.

From the house of Rubens to the Rubens House
After Rubens’ death in 1640, his widow Helena Fourment continued to live at the Wapper for another five years. She then rented out the house for twelve years to Lord Cavendish and his wife Margaret. The royalist Cavendish had fled from Cromwell to the European mainland. In Antwerp, he wrote the reference work on the noble art of horseback riding and he accommodated a Spanish dressage school in the former painter’s studio. In 1660, the Fourment heirs sold the house to the merchant Jacomo van Eycke. The next resident was his brother-in-law, canon Hillewerve. The last family of owners, De Bosschaert de Pret, carried out radical renovations, especially during the second half of the 18th century, such as splitting the residence into two houses, closing the arches of the portico, narrowing the windows in the Grand Atelier, etc. Today, the portico and the garden pavilion are the only authentic remnants of the 17th-century complex.

When the city of Antwerp was finally able to expropriate the house in 1937, a thorough restoration and even a reconstruction were necessary. City architect Emiel Van Averbeke led the restoration during the Second World War. Despite doing a thorough preparatory study of the original condition of the house, many gaps still remained in his knowledge, especially of the interior spaces. However, the master builders did not pretend to be completely correct in historical terms, but rather aimed for an atmospheric evocation of Rubens’ living and working environment. More than fifty years later, this still remains, and the restoration itself has acquired an historical value in the meantime. On 21 July 1946, the Belgian National Day, the Rubens House was solemnly opened.

Recent restoration
Recently, another important restoration took place in the Rubens House. The portico and the garden pavilion are the most eye-catching parts of the building. They give the house structure and meaning. After intensive preparation, they were restored between 2017 and 2019. Thanks to a combination of preservative and protective measures, the sculpted details have come into their own again after meticulous treatment. A glass butterfly awning protects the portico from stone erosion and pollution. Visitors can now re-enter Rubens’ home as he imagined it, with a spectacular view of the portico and the garden pavilion. Both elements were designed by Rubens himself and are rare traces of the master as an architect.

Is the Rubens House wheelchair accessible?
Only the ground floor and the garden part of the Rubens House are wheelchair accessible. There is no elevator in the Rubens House, so the first floor is not accessible for wheelchair users. There is a toilet for wheelchair users.

Is a visit feasible for people with reduced mobility?
There is no elevator in the Rubens House, so the first floor can only be reached by stairs. There are benches in some of the museum rooms.

Is there an elevator for visitors?
There is no elevator for visitors in the Rubens House.

Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed, except for guide dogs and other certified assistance dogs.

Can I enter with a stroller?
You are not allowed to bring strollers into the Rubens House. They must be stored in the courtyard, where they will be monitored by the doorman.

Is smoking allowed in the Rubens House?
The museum and the garden are a smoke-free environment.

Can I eat in the Rubens House?
Food and drink are not allowed in the museum halls.

Can I take pictures in the Rubens House?
Do not take photographs with a flash. Selfie sticks are not allowed. Always ask permission for professional photographic and audiovisual recordings.

Can I enjoy a drink or a meal in the Rubens House?
The Rubens House does not have a museum café. There are several places where you can get something to eat or drink in the vicinity of the museum.

Is there a museum shop?
There is a museum shop opposite the entrance to the Rubens House.