Discover the Age of Enlightenment with Isabelle Depestre, Countess of Seneffe and Jacques de Heusy, as part of "Le Triangle d’Or" (the Golden Triangle) exhibition at the Castle of Seneffe.

The Age of Enlightenment was marked by great political and sociological development, which included a weakening of the monarchy, the rise of the bourgeoisie, a crisis among the peasantry and an openness to foreign influences and different ways of thinking. Yet sophistication and a certain ‘art de vivre’ continued to both charm and nurture society.

From 14 May 2019 to 10 May 2020, the Castle of Seneffe invites you to discover the everyday lives of 14 emblematic characters from the 18th century, who will tell you their story through a series of objects and decorative items that bear witness to a period that was bubbling with excitement.

Come and meet Isabelle Depestre, Countess of Seneffe, daughter of an Antwerp banker and Treasurer for the Compagnie des Indes, whose portrait, painted by Antoine Vestier and recently acquired by the King Baudouin Foundation’s Heritage Fund, has recently joined the Castle’s collection. Nearby is Louis-Michel van Loo’s portrait of Jacques de Heusy, an eminent citizen of Liege who worked hard to defend the territorial and commercial interests of the Principality of Liege. Painted during one of Jacques de Heusy’s diplomatic missions to France, this portrait was also acquired by the Heritage Fund.

Four silver rattles from Michel Wittock’s collection are also exhibited to illustrate the place of the child in the society of the Enlightenment, a subject that was also evolving following the publication of several works by Rousseau on the specificity and importance of childhood in life.

Practical details:

« Le Triangle d’Or »
Domaine du Château de Seneffe
Rue Lucien Plasman 7
7180 Seneffe
From 14 May 2019 to 10 May 2020
Tuesday to Sunday: from 10h to 18h