I finished my short series of photos from the Netherlands and Belgium without showing anything from the wonderful Plantin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp. My bad.
The Plantin and Moretus families established a printing business in Antwerp in the 16th century and operated it successfully as a family-run business for more than 300 years. The secret to their success was that in each generation they selected the most talented son to run the business, not necessarily the oldest. The elegant family home occupies an entire block in Antwerp.
Today the museum in the family home houses the two oldest existing printing presses with moveable type, the company's archives, a huge collection of books from the earliest days of printing, a massive library, and centuries of artwork, furniture and household effects. It is worth setting aside several hours to appreciate the artistry of the books they produced.
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The Plantin and Moretus families established a printing business in Antwerp in the 16th century and operated it successfully as a family-run business for more than 300 years. The secret to their success was that in each generation they selected the most talented son to run the business, not necessarily the oldest. The elegant family home occupies an entire block in Antwerp.
Today the museum in the family home houses the two oldest existing printing presses with moveable type, the company's archives, a huge collection of books from the earliest days of printing, a massive library, and centuries of artwork, furniture and household effects. It is worth setting aside several hours to appreciate the artistry of the books they produced.
S
I love small museums. We have a close friend who would love this. He is a retired CEO who built a studio in his back yard to told his various printing presses and he produces excellent prints.
ReplyDeleteGreat article, I would love to visit this museum someday!
ReplyDeleteLéia
Interesting, intelligent and a bit disturbing that they would choose the most gifted son to pass the business on to rather than the oldest. Seems to me it would cause a bit of sibling rivalry.
ReplyDeleteFascinating and beautiful. As a lover of books I would appreciate this place.
ReplyDelete"My bad"? You sound like some of the 8th-graders I used to teach! :)
Sounds like a great museum. I love old books and am fascinated by old printing presses and moveable type.
ReplyDeleteThis looks and sounds like an incredible place and I would love to visit there! Great captures, Jack, glad you remembered to share them!!!
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who would enjoy this museum very much. He just recently purchased and old press very similar to these.
ReplyDeleteHo, those books on your last pictures, what treasures! I can almost feel the special smell of old paper and old leather.. My kind of place!
ReplyDeleteI love to see old printing presses and imagine the frantic scenes when they were in full action trying to get the papers to press on time..sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era :)Beautifully shown here Jack.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if any businesses starting today will be family owned for 300 years? Somehow I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteCan't remember the last time I visited a real museum. This looks interesting.
ReplyDeleteThat's precisely the sort of place that would appeal to me. I love museums.
ReplyDeleteThis kind of place has a critical role in the history of civilization. Thanks for the images.
ReplyDeleteFascinating. I too am a fan of small, house-based museums. It goes on my list of places to visit.
ReplyDeleteNow that is a place I absolutely adored visiting!
ReplyDeleteI shall always be grateful for printing presses.
ReplyDeleteI would really like to visit this place!
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