Museum of Le Mayeur de Merpres

Le Mayeur Museum has preserved the works of the Belgian painter, Andrian Jean Le Mayeur de Merpres, who arrived in Bali in 1932 from Belgium to stay at Belgia, Sanur Beach, in Banjar Pekandelan, Desa Sanur Kaja, near the Grand Bali Beach Hotel. linese and modern.

Born on 9 February 1880 in Brussels (Belgium), he was a civil engineer (architect) by education, but preferred to be a painter. The house he erected on the beach, including its contents, has become a state museum as a result of Le Mayeur’s will to the Government of the Republic of Indonesia.
The change of status took place following the death of Ni Pollok, the painter’s spouse. The museum houses paintings created by Le Mayeur after visiting several countries such as France, Italy, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Tahiti. He stayed there for some time, while painting new subjects.
The KPM (Koningkelijke Paketsvaart Maatschappij) Dutch Royal Voyage Company in 1920 promoted its business by targeting objects of natural charm in places where people are friendly. The promotional project launched by KPM invited Le Mayeur’s zest to make a trip by sea to Bali in 1932 disembarking in Buleleng Harbor neighboring Singaraja.
Le Mayeur continued his Bali trip from the northern part of the island to the south to arrive at Banjar Kelandis, Denpasar, near the border of this city. There, he met Ni Nyoman Polok, a woman dancer who later became his model. After a long stay in Banjar Kelandis, Le Mayeur moved to Sanur.
In the new place, Le Mayeur painted with Ni Pollok as model, for eight months. He then went to Singpore to put on an exhibition, residing there for four months. He returned to Bali to paint Ni Pollok again as his model. Eventually they married in a traditional Balinese ceremony, and they proceeded to build their house on a 32 acre plot of land.
In 1958, Le Mayeur went to Belgium for treatment for cancer and after a short stay there he died on 31 May 1958. He was buried in Brussels. According to his will, Le Mayeur left his house and contents to Ni Polok. After her death on 27 July 1985 due to old age, this property became a museum in memory of Le Mayeur’s works, while the property moved into the hands of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia.
At present the paintings left in the museum are in a sad condition due to climate and the quality of the paints used, especially during the Japanese occupation.
Le Mayeur Museum stores 88 paintings on canvas, hardboard, plywood, paper, and “bagor” cloth, usually seen as an agricultural bag for grains such as rice. There are also cooking utensils and private statues, cloths, paper, tables, and chairs, in a collection owned by the great painter. (Gung Man)