Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée du Mont-de-Piété de Bergues was founded in the revolutionary seizures of 1791, when nearly 450 paintings were confiscated in local abbeys and convents, notably at the Abbey of Saint-Winoc. These works, often in poor condition, were inventoried by J. Delorge and then dispersed or restored in the early nineteenth century. In 1802, 20 paintings were transferred to the town hall to decorate the hall, marking a first desire for public exhibition.

In 1842, the municipality of Bergues envisaged the creation of a gallery of paintings in a room adjacent to the library. Credits were voted to restore the works, entrusted to Fabien Napoléon Léoni. In 1846 Auguste Outters became curator, but the collections, reduced to 52 paintings in 1816, were not fully valued until after 1871, when they were transferred to the town hall. The museum was officially inaugurated in 1956 in the former Mount of Piété, a baroque building built in 1630 by Wenceslas Cobergher.

The collections were enriched by major donations, such as Pierre-Antoine Verlinde's in 1877, which offered 1,500 drawings and three paintings. The collection of natural history, initiated by Stanislas de Meesemaecker in the late 19th century, was partially destroyed during world wars. After 1945, the museum reorganized, incorporating evacuees and local donations. Ranked a historic monument in 1907, he now holds masterpieces by Georges de La Tour, Rubens or Van Dyck, as well as a remarkable collection of ethnographic drawings and objects.

The former Mont-de-Piété, a building made of brick and Flemish-style stone, has been home to the museum labeled "Musée de France" since 1953. Its thematic rooms feature religious paintings, portraits, still lifes and 19th century works. The Verlinde collection, which has been on display since 2012, includes drawings by Tiepolo, Boucher and Chardin. The museum regularly organizes temporary exhibitions, such as the one dedicated to Bergues' belfry in 2011 or Paul Charlemagne in 2022.

The successive Conservatives, including Thérèse Vergriete (1953–1981) and Jean-Claude Guillemin (1982–2002), marked her history. Despite periods of closure, as between 2005 and 2007, the museum remains a key place for northern heritage, combining art, history and natural sciences. Its jewel, Le Vielleur au dog de Georges de La Tour, makes it a major cultural destination in the Hauts-de-France.

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