The core of the exhibition, entitled Room for Art in 17th Century Antwerp, will consist of three works by Willem van Haecht (1593-1637), one of the founders of the genre. Van Haecht painted several kunstkamers, but only three known works survive today: in the Mauritshuis, the Rubens House and a private collection, and these are all outstanding examples of the genre. They will be brought together for the first time in this exhibition.

Van Haecht’s depictions of kunstkamers combine reality and fantasy: nearly all the paintings he included are copies of works by famous masters, though they may not have always been part of the same collection. As a result, his paintings beautifully illustrate the variety and richness of art collecting in 17th-century Antwerp, while the narrative elements point to artistic and cultural life in the city.

Alongside Van Haecht’s exceptional paintings, the exhibition will include masterpieces from other international museums. Together, they offer an overview of this fascinating genre.

Room for Art has been jointly organized with the Rubens House. You can visit the exhibition in Antwerp from November 28, 2009 until February 28, 2010.

A fully illustrated catalogue, published by the Mauritshuis in collaboration with the Rubens House, will accompany the exhibition. The catalogue contains three essays that consider the Antwerp kunstkamers and Van Haecht, and is priced at €24.50 (available in Dutch and English).

For more information please visit: www.mauritshuis.nl