Art & Architecture
| Seven masterpieces | ||
| Brussels | Liege | Namur |
| Tournai | Discover Art Nouveau in Belgium | Tour Operators |
| Brussels: "The Fall of Icarus" by Pieter Breughel The Elder (16th Century) |
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The Fall of Icarus, the Census of Bethlehem and the Fall of the Rebel Angels make this Breughel room in the Museum of Ancient Art one of the most exhilarating art experiences ever. |
| Liege: The "bronze baptismal font" by Rene de Huy (12th Century) |
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This bronze font, located in the St. Bartholomew's Church, rests on 10 (originally 12) oxen symbolizing the 12 apostles. Several baptism scenes are depicted on the sides. The figures stand out in high relief and the quality of the smooth bronze and the finesse of the figures compare with the best work of that era.
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| Namur: The "Treasury of Hugo d'Oignies" (13th Century) |
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| Tournai: The "Reliquary of Our Lady" by Nicolas de Verdun (13th Century) |
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In the middle of this city, which goes back to Merovingian times, rise the five towers of this most striking and most original monument. Each tower is different but they are all magnificent demonstrations of Romanesque art at its zenith and can be compared to those of Cluny which disappeared in the 19th century. The church is a typical example of the Scaldian ( river Scheldt) style. The four-story nave and the transept are from the 12th century and the chancel, even taller than the nave, is in Gothic style and replaced the Romanesque in the 13th century. The contrast between the elegant Gothic chancel and the more solid nave is surprising at first. In the 15th century the tapestry weaving industry reached its peak in Tournai. Many of the most beautiful specimens are in the possession of Royal courts all over Europe.
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In southern Belgium the best works of art are in bronze, silver, gold, enamel and ivory.
Located in the convent of the sisters of Notre Dame in Namur, the mosan collection includes gospel books, reliquaries and remarkable medallions with filigree and leaf decoration that show tiny hunting scenes.




