Masterpieces from the King Baudouin Foundation

In the context of the Art Nouveau Brussels 2023 year, the King Baudouin Foundation is exhibiting phenomenal Art Nouveau masterpieces from its collection at the BELvue museum in Brussels, from 7 June 2023 to 7 January 2024. Entrance is Free. And last week I went to see the exhibition for myself.

Thanks to the generosity of its patrons, the King Baudouin Foundation has been able to acquire key pieces from the Art Nouveau period in recent years, including work by architect and designer Victor Horta (1861-1947), jewellery designers Philippe Wolfers (1858-1929) and George Morren (1868-1941), architect and decorator Henry van de Velde  (1863-1957), and furniture designer Gustave Serrurier-Bovy (1858-1910). The collection contains a wide variety of unique pieces – from art jewellery, furniture and sculpture to ceramics, drawings and book covers. Several objects were handed down to the Foundation by the heirs or disciples of those artists.

Display of Furniture by Victor Horta at the BELvue Museum Brussels

You may have already seen individual pieces of the collection. The King Baudouin Foundation has exhibited them at different editions of the Brussels Art Fair. After that initial introduction at BRAFA, they were allocated to different museums around Belgium. And now, they are reunited for the first time in one and the same exhibition at the BELvue museum. A unique opportunity to see the Art Nouveau masterpieces the Foundation accumulated by over the last 30 years, and enjoy the collection as a whole.

Enamelled Copper Vases by Philippe Wolfers, 1899-1902

The Foundation entrusted the curatorship of this exhibition to Prof. Dr. Werner Adriaenssens, a well known Belgian Art Nouveau expert. Adriaenssens takes us on a tour of about 40 iconic artworks and everyday objects that epitomise the Art Nouveau period. He introduces us to this exceptional art movement, which is all about creativity, craftsmanship, nature, the graceful and fluid play of lines, and the so called Gesamtkunstwerk (Total Work of Art).

Carpet by Victor Horta for Villa Carpentier, ca. 1902

Behind each of the objects is a special story or interesting anecdote. On the occasion of this exhibition, the Foundation has asked novelist/historian Marc Meganck to write those stories down as gallery texts, allowing us a glimpse of the history of these extraordinary objects. The same texts, along with beautiful photos, are available in a wonderful booklet, up for grabs at the museum in Dutch, French and English.

Wolfers Necklace Dragonfly

Wolfers Medusa Necklace

Diamond Ring by Henry van de Velde

The King Baudouin Foundation

For me, visiting this exhibition was sort of getting re-acquainted with the exhibited works of art. I have already seen many of these pieces at different editions of the Brussels Art Fair over the last 10 years. But seeing them together was a wonderful experience. And it made me realise how important the King Bauduin Foundation actually is in regards to safeguarding and protecting Belgian Art Nouveau heritage, in order to protect it for future generations.

Bookbinding by Henry van de Velde

Drawings by Wolfers with jewelry design

Roberto Pozzo Collection of tiles

Tilepanel Maison Helman, Berchem, Sainte-Agathe

Wall lamp by Serrurier-Bovy

In roughly 30 years, the Foundation has collected no less than 27.000 works of art, including these works that are emblematic of Art Nouveau. Works that provide a valuable insight into the artistic milieu and high society of fin-de-siècle Belgium. And now, this unique Art Nouveau collection has been made accessible to anyone. Free of charge. On top of that the Foundation has published a catalogue to accompany the exhibition, which is also free of charge. And if you cannot make it to the exhibition in person, a virtual exhibition has been made available here.

True to its Mission, the King Baudouin Foundation is, without a doubt, doing everything in its power to Safeguard and preserve significant items of Belgian heritage for future generations and make them accessible to the general public.

BELvue Museum – Place des Palais 7 Paleizenplein – Brussels
7 June 2023 – 7 January 2024

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