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The anatomy dissected

Plantin as a publisher of medical work

24.04.2014 – 24.04.2016 | How much was already known about anatomy in the 16th and 17th centuries? Who bought anatomical books? How did Plantin publish medical works? The Anatomy Dissected offers answers to all these questions. Its starting point is the Vivae imagines corporis humani by the Spanish doctor Juan de Valverde, published by Christophe Plantin.

18th-century Neapolitan nativity scene

Every year during the Christmas period, the Museum displays a beautiful 18th-century Neapolitan nativity scene. It is a colourful theatrical spectacle featuring a large choir of angels, exotic figures and village and city dwellers.

The Magnificent Middle Ages

The Museum's finest manuscripts

02.02.2013 – 05.05.2013 | The Plantin-Moretus Museum exhibited its finest illuminated manuscripts from February to May 2013. These hand-written texts on parchment with their colourful initials and subtle marginal decoration are an absolute feast for the eyes.

The Soul of the Master

Antwerp drawings from Rubens to Panamarenko

15.09.2012 – 16.12.2012 | Eleven guest curators mounted this exhibition, including the likes of fashion designer Dries Van Noten, gallery owner Adriaan Raemdonck and curator Stefaan Hautekeete. They brought together drawings by old masters and contemporary work, creating surprising thematic links and spotting affinities of style, composition or line across the centuries.

View of the Antwerp Roadstead

This print shows Antwerp in 1521, as seen from the place known at that time as Vlaams Hoofd and now as Linkeroever. It glorifies the city on the Scheldt as an important economic and cultural centre. A scroll or banderole near the Church of Our Lady reads ‘Antverpia mercatorum emporium’ (‘Antwerp: the merchants’ emporium’).

Christ carrying the cross

Anthony Van Dyck’s work is also represented in the Print Cabinet’s collection. This drawing of Christ Carrying the Cross is a preparatory study for his painting of the same name that is kept in St Paul’s Church, Antwerp. In it, Van Dyck demonstrates his mastery of dynamism.

Odysseus' ship stocked with provisions by Calypso

Jacob Jordaens was a gifted draughtsman and painter. Here he shows seven servants carrying supplies aboard Odysseus’ ship, under the gaze of the lovelorn nymph Calypso.

Allegory for Abraham Ortelius

This superb little drawing on parchment was done by Joris Hoefnagel in 1593 to commemorate his friendship with the cartographer and geographer Abraham Ortelius, as the inscriptions below inform us.

View of the city with poultry market

Filips Galle was one of the most important Antwerp print publishers of the 16th century. This print shows an everyday scene with a number of market stalls at which citizens are inspecting and buying poultry.

Wisdom

Intelligentia or ‘Wisdom’ is a print from a series of eight works by engraver Cornelis Cort. Each picture presents a female personification of a virtue, with a creature at her side.