From the treasure of Hugo d’Oignies to Art Nouveau, the King Baudouin Foundation’s collection is travelling not just around Belgium but abroad too!
From the private to the public. Thomas Neirynck Collection. From sentiment to lyrical expression
Given the success of the exhibition, it has been prolonged until 6/8/2023. FeliXart Museum, Drogenbos. More information
Georges Simenon, ‘Pictures of a world in crisis. Photographs 1931-1935
To be seen to the Grand Curtius museum in Liege until 27/08/2023. More information
Zéphir Busine, Designer
From the 1950s to the 1970s, this multifaceted artist was by turn illustrator, ceramist, sculptor, stained glass window maker and designer. He also had the opportunity to work with the architect Jacques Dupuis and, on several occasions, they worked together to design furniture. The architect provided instructions, made sketches and set the tone for the piece; it was up to Busine to refine and complete the project. This was how they made the furniture commissioned for the dining room and sitting room of the Dumont house in Braine-le-Comte, which is now part of the King Baudouin Foundation’s collection. The ensemble comprises a dining table, 8 chairs, a sideboard, a trolley, a bar, a sofa, two armchairs and a sitting room table. Until 28/08/2023 at the Design Museum Brussels.
Barokke Influencers
'Design for an antependium for the Altar of Sodality of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin in the building of the Jesuits’ Sodality in Antwerp' is part of the King Baudouin Foundation’s Van Herck collection, which comprises over 700 drawings and 110 pieces of terracotta, dating from the 17th to the 19th century. These are essentially preparatory works for monumental sculptures or church furniture bearing carved decoration. They were made by artists from the former Southern Netherlands, and in particular from the Antwerp region. The works can find no better place to be shown than in this exhibition devoted to the Baroque movement, which embodies the meeting of tradition and modernity. This exhibition shows how international and important this development was, how it continued into the 20th century and what the Baroque means in our extremely diverse society of today. The exhibition is at the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library in Antwerp until 10/09/2023.
Léon Spilliaert. The beginnings
In 2022, the Eliane Vercaempt Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, acquired three volumes of Théâtre, written by Maurice Maeterlinck and illustrated with original drawings by Léon Spilliaert. Given their cultural, historical and artistic importance, the books have acquired the status of masterpieces of the Flemish Community. This exhibition places Spilliaert’s illustrations for Théâtre within their context. They are presented together with a body of work from the museum’s collection, made during the artist’s early life. The exhibition is on until 24/09/2023 at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
ART NOUVEAU. Unique objects with a tale to tell
The King Baudouin Foundation is exhibiting Art Nouveau masterpieces of its collection at the BELvue museum in Brussels. Until 7 January, 2024. More information
Fanciful immortality
Camille De Taeye built his reputation during the second half of the 20th century, distinguishing himself through the originality of the themes he chose and the enigmatic poetry of his compositions. In 2019, his wife donated a large series of drawings, paintings and serigraphs to the King Baudouin Foundation in order to ensure that they were accessible to the general public. In parallel to this, the Camille De Taeye Fund was created within the Foundation, to perpetuate and promote the artist’s work. Some twenty works by Camille De Taeye have been loaned to this exhibition, focusing on his book illustrations. The exhibition will present De Taeye’s career through his books, from his beginnings as a book illustrator together with the poet Gerda Vancluysen, who was also his first wife. The exhibits will be punctuated by the artist’s aphorisms, as well as photograhs of his studio. You can see the exhibition at the Wittockiana until 24/01/2024.
The Normans. Migrants, conquerors and innovators (Rouen)
Take a fresh look at the entire history of Normandy, taking into account new readings of history, but also the new dynamics of current migration. Such is the ambition of this exhibition. A part of the Treasure of Oignies, the so-called ‘Saint Edwige (Hedwig) Goblet’ – mounted as a gilt and niello reliquary in Oignies during the first half of the 13th century – will be one of the objects in the exhibition. The Treasure, a collection of 13th century silver, mainly religious, comprises some fifty pieces, made by Brother Hugo d’Oignies and colleagues in his workshop. Following the destruction of the Priory of Oignies during the French Revolution, in 1818 the treasure was entrusted to the Sisters of Notre Dame of Namur, who donated the collection to the King Baudouin Foundation to ensure its safeguarding. To see at the Fine Arts Museum of Rouen, until 13/08/2023.
Drawn to Life. Works from the time of Bruegel and Rubens (Oslo)
During the latter part of the 16th century and throughout the 17th century, Flemish and Dutch drawing exhibited great diversity. The subjects of this exhibition range from landscapes and animals to mythological, allegorical and biblical scenes. The exhibition is based on a generous loan from the rich collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, two of whose drawings come from the King Baudouin Foundation’s collection: Jupiter et Callisto, anonymous (circle of Bernard van Orley and Pieter Coecke van Aelst), 16th century, and La conversion de Saul, by Abraham van Diepenbeeck, 17th century. Acquired by the Léon Courtin - Marcelle Bouché Fund in 2016, these will dialogue with a selection of drawings from the period loaned by the National Museum of Oslo. A fascinating confrontation! To discover until 10 September, 2023.