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Origin and history

The Benoît-De-Puydt Museum of Bailleul was founded in 1859 thanks to the legacy of Benoît De Puydt, a rich collector and native clerk of the city. The latter had gathered art objects reflecting Flemish culture from the 15th to the 19th century. When he died, he offered his collection to the city of Bailleul, provided that a museum and art academy were created there. The museum opened its doors in 1862 in Rue des Choux, now Rue du Musée De Puydt, under the management of Charles Allo, a close to De Puydt.

The museum was severely damaged during World War I, especially in 1918, when 80% of its collections were lost, looted or destroyed. Thanks to the law of reparation for war damage, some of the collections were rebuilt after 1919, with the acquisition of Flemish works and decorative objects. In 1934, the museum reopened in a building rebuilt by architect Louis Roussel, in a neo-flamand style, recalling the spirit of a collector's house.

The museum's collections are varied and eclectic, like 19th-century cabinets of curiosity. There are Chinese and Japanese porcelains, the faiences of Delft and Bailleul, tapestries, Flemish, Spanish and French paintings, and works by local painter Pharaoh de Winter. A room is dedicated to Flemish folklore, and the museum also houses sculptures, antique furniture, laces and ceramics, covering a period from the 15th to the 21st century.

Among the major works on display are the Extraction of the Madness Stone of Herri Met of Bles, the Adoration of the Magi of Pieter Brueghel the Younger, and the self-portraits of Pharaoh of Winter. The museum has benefited from many donations and bequests over the years, including those of Rosa de Winter in 1984 and of Émile Hié in 1987, further enriching its collections. Since the 1990s, the museum has organized temporary exhibitions and pursued a targeted acquisition policy, particularly around Flemish painting and Marguerite Yourcenar's work.

Today, the Benoît-De-Puydt Museum is a must-see cultural place in Hauts-de-France, labeled Musée de France. It bears witness to local history and Flemish heritage, while providing an overview of 19th-century collectors' eclecticism. Its reconstruction after the First World War and continued efforts to preserve and enrich its collections make it a symbol of resilience and living heritage.

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