Bartholomeus de Momper

Bartholomeus de Momper (I) or Bartholomeus de Momper the Elder (Antwerp, 1535 – Antwerp, between 1595 and 1597) was a Flemish publisher, printer, draughtsman and art dealer. He was a member of de Momper family, a prominent family of landscape painters and printmakers, originally from Bruges, which had settled in Antwerp in the 16th century.

Life Bartholomeus de Momper was born in 1535 in Antwerp as the son of Joos de Momper the Elder and Anna de Zuttere. His father was a painter and dealer in paintings and linen. The de Momper family was a family of artists, originally from Bruges, which had settled in Antwerp in the early 16th century and became mainly known for publishing and landscape painting.

Bartholomeus de Momper was a member of the Antwerp mercer's guild in 1562, which allowed him to deal in pigments. Bartholomeus de Momper was principally an art dealer and rented the Schilderij Pand der Borze (Painting house at the bourse) as well as the art stalls at the trade fair. The Schilderij Pand had been established in 1540. It was under the management of the Antwerp city government. It comprised 100 art stalls on the second floor of the bourse. It operated throughout the year in contrast to the art stalls at the periodical trade fairs. Art dealers could rent the stalls to sell paintings. On 21 February 1565, Bartholomeus de Momper entered with the city government into an agreement for the lease of the Schilderij Pand der Borze. The term of the lease was three years and the rent was particularly high at 1,848 guilders per year. It was the highest annual rent ever paid for the lease.

Bartholomeus de Momper's business suffered terribly as a result of the Sack of Antwerp. This rampage of Spanish soldiers in Antwerp caused significant financial loss to Bartholomeus de Momper. All his art stalls were sacked and his residence was plundered. As the tenant of the Schilderij Pand which he leased from the city government, Bartholomeus de Momper petitioned for a waiver of the rental payments on the ground that he was unable to operate his business for a while. The city magistrate only agreed to grant a waiver of the rental payment for half a year and instructed de Momper to ensure that his sub-lessees would return to operate their business in the Schilderij Pand. Bartholomeus de Momper resumed trade at seven art stalls in January 1577. Not long after, a new threat arose in Antwerp when German soldiers started to plunder the city and broke into the exchange where they pillaged all they could lay their hands on.

Bartholomeus de Momper died in Antwerp between 1595 and 1597.