Page 78 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

76  bel gium and l uxembourg region b y region

Exploring the Musées Royaux des
Beaux-Arts de Belgique

The several museums that make up the musées royaux des
beaux-arts de belgique contain works of many artistic styles,
from the religious paintings of the 15th-century Flemish
Primitives to the Pop art and minimalism of the 1960s and
1970s. all are very well set out, guiding the visitor easily through
the full collection or directly to a specific art era. each section
is highly accessible, with the two main museums divided into
different sections, each relating to the art of a particular century.

Vase of Flowers (1704) by Dutch still-life
Lamentation by Rogier van der painter Rachel Ruysch
Musée Old Masters Weyden, city painter to Brussels
The Musée Old Masters exhibits during the mid-15th century, larger works, including Four
works dating from the 15th to and The Martyrdom of Saint Negro Heads, for his iconic
the 18th centuries. In the first Sebastian by the famed Bruges Adoration of the Magi (1624).
few rooms are works by the artist Hans Memling (c.1433–94). Other works of note in this
renowned school of Flemish Another unique aspect of section are the paintings by
Primitives (see pp106–107). As is the section is the extensive Old Masters such as van Dyck’s
the case with most art from the collection of paintings by the Portrait of a Genoese Lady with
Middle Ages, the paintings are Brueghels, father and son. Both her Daughter from the 1620s and
chiefly religious in nature and were renowned for their scenes Three Children with Goatcart by
depict biblical scenes and of peasant life. On dis play are Frans Hals, the famous portrait
details from the lives of saints. The Fall of Icarus (1558) by painter. Representatives of the
Many of these show deeds of Brueghel the Elder and The later Flemish schools include
horrific torture, martyrdom and Struggle between Carnival and Jacob Jordaens (see p107) and
violence, attended by the Lent (c.1559) by his son, Pieter. his depiction of myths such as
perplexing nonchalance of the In the following rooms are Pan and Syrinx (c.1645) and
elegantly attired bystanders. A works from the 17th and 18th Satyr and Peasant. Baroque
typical example is the diptych centuries. A highlight of this and Flemish art are all well
The Justice of Emperor Otto III section is the world-famous represented in the museums.
(c.1460) by Dirk Bouts, which collection of paintings by Also on display are some small
includes a gory beheading (a Baroque artist Pieter Paul sculptures that were studies of
famous miscarriage of justice Rubens (1557–1640), which larger works by Laurent Delvaux,
in the 12th century) and an affords a fine overview of the a leading sculptor of the 18th
execution by burning at the artist’s work. As well as key century. Most notably, Hercules
stake. At the same time, the examples of his religious and Erymanthian Boar is a study
detail is exquisite and provides works, there are some excellent for the sculpture by the stair case
a fascinating window on the portraits, such as Hélène Fourment, in the Palais de Charles de
textiles, architecture and faces of his young wife. Of special Lorraine (see p69). Works of the
of the 15th century. Also on interest are the sketches made Italian, Spanish and French schools
display are works such as in preparation for Rubens’s are also rep resented, notably the
Classical landscape painter Claude
Le Lorrain’s poetic scene of
Aeneas Hunting the Stag on
the Coast of Libya (1672). Other
works on show include Vase of
Flowers (1704) by Dutch artist
Rachel Ruysch, who specialized
in still-life paintings of flowers
and fruits.

Musée Fin de Siècle
The Musée Fin de Siècle
showcases European and
international art from the
end of the 19th century to
the beginning of the 20th
Lamentation (c.1441) by Rogier van der Weyden century. The collection focuses
For hotels and restaurants see p266 and pp280–83

076-077_EW_Belgium.indd 76 16/10/14 3:35 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
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Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm