Rubenshuis

Rubens lived here with both his first wife, Isabella Brant (1591-1626), and his second, Hélène Fourment (1614-1673), together with their children. He designed the main part of the building himself, according to Italian Renaissance designs, and included a stately gallery, and a baroque garden. The gallery became the studio where he worked with his assistants, and the house as a whole was a showcase for his unparalleled art collection. As with the house and studio, the library and collection - including works by Titian, Tintoretto, Holbein and Elsheimer - served to underline Rubens' status as connoisseur and gentleman-artist. Rubens would die here in 1640, leaving a house that reveals his skills as painter, art collector and architect, as well as offering a window into his personal friendships and family life.

The Rubenshuis opened to the public in 1946. Today, it displays a splendid collection of works by both Rubens and his contemporaries, and offers an insight into Rubens' life and the history of the city he lived in. Meanwhile, the garden offers a tranquil setting in the city centre. The museum regularly organises international exhibitions and smaller displays relating to Rubens' life. The adjacent Rubenianum is a centre for the study of Rubens, and offers detailed tours and insights, and research resources.