The Map of Utopia (1595-96), made by the famous Antwerp cartographer Abraham Ortelius, is the only engraving that exists of the imaginary island described by Thomas More and it is now preserved for future generations. The same is true for a magnificent 17th century illustrated Mons songbook and a 15th century book of Gregorian chant.
When a Gregorian antiphonary, of excellent quality and in a fine state of repair, was put up for sale, the King Baudouin Foundation could hardly miss such an opportunity!
Thanks to restoration work financed by the Baillet Latour Fund, “Dulle Griet” (or “Mad Meg”) by Pierre Brueghel the Elder, has regained all the richness of its original colours. This masterpiece is one of the centrepieces of a Breughel retrospective exhibition at the Kunsthistorisches Museum of Vienna.
Axel Vervoordt has selected our goblet in the form of an owl as the centrepiece of his cabinet of curiosities being exhibited at the DIVA. Three recently-acquired pieces of jewellery also find their place in the cabinet of curiosities, which is on show in Antwerp until April 18, 2019.
