Museum aan het Vrijthof
Encyclopedia
The Museum aan het Vrijthof (previously: Museum Spaans Gouvernement) is a museum of (local) history, art and artifacts in Maastricht
, The Netherlands.
of the church of Saint Servatius
and was probably built for one of the chapter's canons
. In the early 16th century the house was rebuilt and enlarged. The three late-Gothic
windows on the first floor date from this period. Two of them carry the motto of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
: 'Plus ultra
'. The third window carries the symbols of Habsburg
power: the double-headed eagle and the coat of arms
of Habsburg and Castile
. A little later, an arcade
in Liège
Renaissance style was added on the side of the courtyard. The colonnade
frieze
has three sculpted medallions with the portraits of (probably) Charles V, his wife Isabella of Portugal
and their son Philip II of Spain
, who stayed here at several occasions. It was probably here that Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
and Governor of the Netherlands, signed the declaration that made William the Silent
, leader of the Dutch Revolt
, an outlaw. It was during this period that the building acquired its name Spanish Government building (Dutch: Spaans Gouvernement).
In the early 20th century, part of the building was demolished and replaced by a building that is now in use as a bank (corner St Jacobstraat). From 1969-1973 a thorough restoration took place.
based couple Fré Wagner and Broos de Wit bequeathed their art collection to a foundation based in the city of Maastricht. Since 1973 the Wagner-De Wit collection has been on display in what was then called Museum Spaans Gouvernement. The pavilion room in the courtyard was specifically built to house valuable boiseries from a demolished 18th century Maastricht mansion. Some of the period rooms decorated in the so-called Liège Régence
style, are used for functions.
In late 2010 the museum closed for renovations and extensions. The renovation includes a partial restoration of the original front of the Spanish Government building, which had a largely blind facade and a gate. The extension consists of adding a neighboring building to the museum's exhibition space, as well as roofing over the courtyard. The enlarged building will be about two and a half times bigger than the current premises. The museum is expected to re-open in the Spring of 2012.
, Adriaen van de Venne
, Cornelius van Poelenburgh
, Johannes Lingelbach
, Egbert van der Poel
, Nicolaes Moeyaert, Nicolaes Berchem, Lodewijk de Vadder
, Jacques d'Arthois
, Pieter Casteels III
) and paintings from the Hague School
(Jozef Israëls
, Johan Hendrik Weissenbruch
, George Hendrik Breitner
and the brothers Jacob
, Matthijs
and Willem Maris
). The couple also collected sculpture from the Middle Ages
and Renaissance period, tapestries and furniture from the 16th, 17th and 18th century, glass and crystal objects, antique coins, and artifacts from the Far East
.
Over the years, the collection has expanded to include Maastricht silver from the 18th century, Maastricht and Liège pistols from the 18th and 19th century, and Maastricht painting from the early 20th century. Since 1997 the Bonhomme-Tielens bequest (mainly Maastricht silver and antique clocks) is part of the museum collection.
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
, The Netherlands.
History of the building
The museum is housed in the Spanish Government building, one of the oldest non-religious buildings in Maastricht, on the city's main square, Vrijthof. The building was originally part of the ecclesiastical territory of the chapterChapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
of the church of Saint Servatius
Basilica of Saint Servatius
The Roman catholic Basilica of Saint Servatius, situated in Maastricht at the Vrijthof square, is a mainly Romanesque church dedicated to Saint Servatius.- History :...
and was probably built for one of the chapter's canons
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
. In the early 16th century the house was rebuilt and enlarged. The three late-Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
windows on the first floor date from this period. Two of them carry the motto of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
: 'Plus ultra
Plus Ultra (motto)
Plus ultra is the national motto of Spain adopted from the personal motto of Charles I of Spain. Earl Rosenthal, author of The Palace of Charles V in Granada , has researched the origin of the motto...
'. The third window carries the symbols of Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
power: the double-headed eagle and the coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of Habsburg and Castile
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
. A little later, an arcade
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
in Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
Renaissance style was added on the side of the courtyard. The colonnade
Colonnade
In classical architecture, a colonnade denotes a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing, or part of a building....
frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
has three sculpted medallions with the portraits of (probably) Charles V, his wife Isabella of Portugal
Isabella of Portugal
Isabella of Portugal was a Portuguese Princess and Holy Roman Empress, Duchess of Burgundy, and a Queen Regent/Consort of Spain. She was the daughter of Manuel I of Portugal and Maria of Aragon. By her marriage to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Isabella was also Holy Roman Empress and Queen...
and their son Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, who stayed here at several occasions. It was probably here that Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
Alexander Farnese was Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1586 to 1592, and Governor of the Spanish Netherlands from 1578 to 1592.-Biography:...
and Governor of the Netherlands, signed the declaration that made William the Silent
William the Silent
William I, Prince of Orange , also widely known as William the Silent , or simply William of Orange , was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. He was born in the House of...
, leader of the Dutch Revolt
Dutch Revolt
The Dutch Revolt or the Revolt of the Netherlands This article adopts 1568 as the starting date of the war, as this was the year of the first battles between armies. However, since there is a long period of Protestant vs...
, an outlaw. It was during this period that the building acquired its name Spanish Government building (Dutch: Spaans Gouvernement).
In the early 20th century, part of the building was demolished and replaced by a building that is now in use as a bank (corner St Jacobstraat). From 1969-1973 a thorough restoration took place.
The museum
In 1954, the wealthy The HagueThe Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
based couple Fré Wagner and Broos de Wit bequeathed their art collection to a foundation based in the city of Maastricht. Since 1973 the Wagner-De Wit collection has been on display in what was then called Museum Spaans Gouvernement. The pavilion room in the courtyard was specifically built to house valuable boiseries from a demolished 18th century Maastricht mansion. Some of the period rooms decorated in the so-called Liège Régence
Regency architecture
The Regency style of architecture refers primarily to buildings built in Britain during the period in the early 19th century when George IV was Prince Regent, and also to later buildings following the same style...
style, are used for functions.
In late 2010 the museum closed for renovations and extensions. The renovation includes a partial restoration of the original front of the Spanish Government building, which had a largely blind facade and a gate. The extension consists of adding a neighboring building to the museum's exhibition space, as well as roofing over the courtyard. The enlarged building will be about two and a half times bigger than the current premises. The museum is expected to re-open in the Spring of 2012.
The collection
The museum's permanent collection largely consists of the Wagner-De Wit bequest. The original collection, brought together by the artistic couple, contained art and artifacts from a wide array of periods and regions. The emphasis was on Dutch and Flemish painting from the 17th century (Dirck van BaburenDirck van Baburen
Dirck Jaspersz. van Baburen was a Dutch painter associated with the Utrecht Caravaggisti.-Biography:Dirck van Baburen was probably born in Wijk bij Duurstede, but his family moved to Utrecht when he was still young. He was also known as Teodoer van Baburen and Theodor Baburen...
, Adriaen van de Venne
Adriaen van de Venne
Adriaen Pietersz van de Venne , was a versatile Dutch Golden Age painter of allegories, genre subjects and portraits, as well as a miniaturist, book-illustrator and designer of political satires and a versifier.-Biography:...
, Cornelius van Poelenburgh
Cornelius van Poelenburgh
Cornelis van Poelenburgh, was a Dutch Golden Age landscape painter.-Biography:Though his birthplace is unknown, a signed document survives in Utrecht where he is listed as six years old and the son of Simon van Poelenburch, a Catholic canon in Utrecht. He initially trained with Abraham Bloemaert,...
, Johannes Lingelbach
Johannes Lingelbach
Johannes Lingelbach or Johann, , was a Dutch Golden Age painter, associated with the second generation of Bambocciate, a group of genre painters working in Rome from 1625 - 1700.-Biography:...
, Egbert van der Poel
Egbert van der Poel
Egbert van der Poel was a Dutch Golden Age genre and landscape painter, son of a Delft goldsmith.-Life:He may possibly have been a student of Esaias van de Velde and of Aert van der Neer. According to the RKD he was the brother of the painter Adriaen Lievensz van der Poel and a student of Cornelis...
, Nicolaes Moeyaert, Nicolaes Berchem, Lodewijk de Vadder
Lodewijk de Vadder
Lodewijk de Vadder was a Flemish Baroque landscape painter and engraver.-Biography:He became a master of Antwerp's Guild of St. Luke in 1628, and learned painting from his father and brothers. He specialized in landscapes with woods, in the manner of his contemporary Jacques d'Arthois and his...
, Jacques d'Arthois
Jacques d'Arthois
Jacques d'Arthois was a Flemish Baroque painter who specialized in landscapes.-Biography:D'Arthois was born in Brussels. He was apprenticed to Jan Mertens on 11 January 1625 and became a master in the Brussels Guild of St. Luke in 1634...
, Pieter Casteels III
Pieter Casteels III
Pieter Casteels, a Flemish painter and engraver, was born at Antwerp in 1684, and came to England in 1708. He painted birds, flowers, and fruit; but his paintings have not much to recommend them, and were greatly inferior to those of an English contemporary artist, Luke Cradock. As an engraver he...
) and paintings from the Hague School
Hague School
The Hague School is the name given to a group of artists who lived and worked in The Hague between 1860 and 1890. Their work was heavily influenced by the realist painters of the French Barbizon school. The painters of the Hague school generally made use of relatively sombre colours, which is why...
(Jozef Israëls
Jozef Israëls
Jozef Israëls was a Dutch painter, and "the most respected Dutch artist of the second half of the nineteenth century".-Youth:...
, Johan Hendrik Weissenbruch
Johan Hendrik Weissenbruch
Hendrik Johannes Weissenbruch was a Dutch painter of the Hague School....
, George Hendrik Breitner
George Hendrik Breitner
George Hendrik Breitner wasa Dutch painter and photographer.-Biography:George Hendrik Breitner was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands. From 1876–1880 he attended the Academy in the Hague where his extraordinary talent was rewarded on various occasions...
and the brothers Jacob
Jacob Maris
Jacob Maris was a Dutch painter, who with his brothers Willem and Matthijs belonged to what has come to be known as the Hague School of painters....
, Matthijs
Matthijs Maris
Matthias Marris was a Dutch painter, etcher and lithographer. He was also known as Matthijs Maris or Thijs...
and Willem Maris
Willem Maris
Willem Maris was a Dutch landscape painter of the Hague School.Willem was the third in a family of five children. His two brothers Jacob and Matthijs Maris preceded him as painters...
). The couple also collected sculpture from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
and Renaissance period, tapestries and furniture from the 16th, 17th and 18th century, glass and crystal objects, antique coins, and artifacts from the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
.
Over the years, the collection has expanded to include Maastricht silver from the 18th century, Maastricht and Liège pistols from the 18th and 19th century, and Maastricht painting from the early 20th century. Since 1997 the Bonhomme-Tielens bequest (mainly Maastricht silver and antique clocks) is part of the museum collection.