Bonnefantenmuseum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bonnefanten Museum

Established	1884
Location	Avenue Céramique 250, Maastricht, Netherlands

Maquette of Bonnefantenmuseum

The Bonnefanten Museum is a cool art museum in Maastricht, Netherlands. It's a special place because it shows both really old art and super modern art together! Imagine seeing paintings from hundreds of years ago right next to art made last year.

History of the Museum

The museum started way back in 1884. Back then, it was a museum about history and old stuff from the Limburg region. Its unique name, Bonnefanten, comes from a French phrase, "bons enfants," meaning "good children." This was the nickname for an old convent building where the museum used to be located from 1951 to 1978.

In 1995, the museum moved to its current home. This new building is super eye-catching! It was designed by an Italian architect named Aldo Rossi. It has a famous rocket-shaped top that looks over the Maas River. It's one of the most famous modern buildings in Maastricht.

Since 1999, the Bonnefanten Museum has focused only on art. All the old history and archaeology collections moved to other places. The museum gets most of its money from the Limburg province. In 2009, the museum celebrated its 125th birthday!

Art Collections

What makes the Bonnefanten Museum special is how it mixes old art with contemporary art. You can find both under one roof!

Old Art Treasures

The old art section is on the first floor. It shows amazing paintings from early Italian, Flemish, and Dutch artists. You'll also see a huge collection of medieval sculptures.

Here are some types of old art you can find:

• Wooden Sculptures: These are carvings from the 13th to the 16th century. Look for works by Jan van Steffeswert.
• Medieval Art: This collection includes items made from wood, bronze, marble, and ivory. They come from places like the Southern Netherlands, France, and Germany.
• Italian Paintings: See beautiful paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries by artists like Giovanni del Biondo and Sano di Pietro.
• Flemish and Dutch Paintings: Discover art from the 16th and 17th centuries. Famous names include Pieter Brueghel the Younger, Peter Paul Rubens, and Jan van Goyen.

Modern Art Wonders

The contemporary art collection is usually on the second floor. It focuses on different art styles from recent times.

Some of the main styles you'll see are:

• Conceptual Art: This art is more about ideas than just how it looks. Artists include Joseph Beuys and Ai Weiwei.
• Minimal Art: This style uses simple shapes and colors. You might see works by Sol LeWitt and Richard Serra.
• Arte Povera: This means "poor art" in Italian. It uses everyday materials. Look for art by Mario Merz.
• Neo-expressionism: This style uses strong colors and emotions. Artists like Neo Rauch and Marlene Dumas are featured.

The museum also has video art and large art installations. These are big artworks that sometimes fill a whole room! Artists like Francis Alÿs and Franz West have created these.

In 2011, a special deal brought the Eyck collection of postwar art to the museum. This also included a castle and its grounds in Wijlre, which are now part of the museum's collection.

Gallery

See also

• Google Arts & Culture