Page 72 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

70  BRUSSELS AREA B Y AREA

Exploring the Musées Royaux des
Beaux-Arts de Belgique

Six centuries of art, both Belgian and international, are
displayed in the museums that make up the Musées Royaux
des Beaux-Arts. The combination of the museums contains
works from many artistic styles, from the religious paintings
of the 15th-century Flemish Primitives to the graphic art of
the 1960s and 1970s. Regular temporary exhibitions are
staged at the museums, which are very well set out, guiding
the visitor easily through the full collection or, if time is short,
directly to the art era of special interest. Each section is Flemish still life, Vase of Flowers (1704) by
highly accessible, with both main museums divided into Rachel Ruysch
different sections which relate to the art of each century, collection of paintings by
taking the visitor through galleries representing the varied Baroque artist, Pieter Paul
schools of art by period. Rubens (1557–1640), which
affords a fine overview of his art.
detail is exquisite and provides As well as key examples of his
Musée Old Masters
a fascinating window on the religious works, there are some
The Musée Old Masters exhibits textiles, architecture and faces excellent portraits, such as
works dating from the 15th to of the 15th century. Also on Hélène Fourment (c.1614–73), of
the 18th centuries. In the first display are works such as his young wife. Of special
few rooms are works by the Lamentation (c.1441) by Rogier interest are the sketches made
renowned school of Flemish van der Weyden, the city painter in preparation for Rubens’s
Primitives (see p20). As is the to Brussels during the mid-15th larger works, including Four
case with most art from century, and The Martyrdom of Negro Heads, for his iconic
the Middle Ages, the paintings Saint Sebastian (c.1475) by Adoration of the Magi (1624).
are chiefly religious in nature Bruges artist, Hans Memling Other works of note in this
and depict biblical scenes and (c.1433–94). section are the paintings by Old
details from the lives of saints. Another unique aspect of Masters such as van Dyck’s
Many of the works show deeds the section is the extensive Portrait of a Genoese Lady with
of horrific torture, martyrdom collection of paintings by the her Daughter from the 1620s
and violence, attended by the Brueghels, father and son. Both and Three Children with Goatcart
perplexing nonchalance of were renowned for their scenes (c.1620) by Frans Hals.
the elegantly attired bystanders. of peasant life. On dis play are Representatives of the later
A typical example is the diptych The Fall of Icarus (1558) by Flemish schools include Jacob
The Justice of Emperor Otto III Brueghel the Elder and The Jordaens and his depiction of
(c.1460) by Dirk Bouts, which Struggle between Carnival and myths such as Pan and Syrinx
includes a gory beheading (a Lent (c.1559) by his son, Pieter. (c.1645) and Satyr and Peasant.
famous miscarriage of justice In the following rooms are Baroque and Flemish art are all
in the 12th century) and an works from the 17th and 18th well represented in the museum.
execution by burning at the centuries. A highlight of this Also on display are some small
stake. At the same time, the section is the world-famous sculptures that were studies of
larger works by Laurent Delvaux,
a leading sculptor of the 18th
century. Most notably, Hercules
and Erymanthian Boar is a study
for the sculpture by the stair case
in the Palais de Charles de
Lorraine (see p65). Works of the
Italian, Spanish and French
schools 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
Lamentation (c.1441) by Rogier van der Weyden of flowers and fruits.

070-071_EW_Brussels.indd 70 10/01/17 10:54 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Flashmap follow-on template “UK” LAYER
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Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm