Also known as the Museum of Fine Arts of Brussels, the Oldmasters Museum is one of Belgium's cultural gems and a must-see destination for lovers of ancient art. Primarily dedicated to early painting — spanning a period from the 15th to the 18th century — it houses an exceptional collection that traces the history of art in Northern Europe from the Renaissance to the Baroque.
Its collection of Flemish Primitives, one of the most extensive in the world, allows visitors to appreciate the delicacy and depth of these early great artists from Northern Europe, whose works provide a poignant testimony to the religious, social, and political concerns of their time.
The museum also displays an important collection of works from the Baroque period, with paintings by great masters such as Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, and Jacob Jordaens. These works highlight the opulence, dynamism, and emotion that characterise Baroque art, offering a striking contrast with earlier styles.
In addition to its permanent collection, the Oldmasters Museum regularly organises temporary exhibitions that allow visitors to explore specific themes or create dialogues between ancient works and contemporary creations. These exhibitions are often accompanied by events such as lectures, themed guided tours, and educational workshops, making the museum a vibrant place for sharing knowledge and discovery.
Moreover, it plays a crucial role in the research and conservation of ancient art, collaborating with institutions worldwide to promote the knowledge and preservation of cultural heritage. Through the combination of an exceptionally rich collection with a dynamic approach to presentation and education, the museum remains a pillar of the cultural scene in Brussels and a prime destination for anyone wishing to explore the fascinating history of European art.
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Regarded as one of the richest Asia art collections in the world, the Musée national des Arts asiatiques – Guimet gradually forms on the initiative of Émile Guimet (1836-1918), an industrialist, traveler and connoisseur from Lyon, who enriches his collections by travelling around the world, notably in Japan, China and India.
Specialising in Asian objets d'art, Guimet transfers his collections in the museum he has built in Paris by architect Jules Chatron and which is inaugurated in 1889.
At the same time, a museum of Indochina is created in the Palais du Trocadéro. It houses the finds of the French explorer Louis Delaporte. Most of its collections are then transferred to Musée Guimet, which is attached to Direction des Musées de France (Commission of French Museums) in 1927, gathering other collections and donations from private individuals.
The museum's collections currently cover most of Eastern Asia, focusing mainly on archaeological and ancient art objects. Contemporary art and ethological objects find their proper place in the Musée du quai Branly.
However, besides its permanent collections and the exhibitions which it organises, the museum tends to follow with the museal evolution. Acting as a cultural centre dedicated to Asian cultures, it organises movie retrospectives, recitals and concerts, dance and theatre performances.
The permanent collections divide into:
• Southeast Asia: Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia
• India
• China
• Central Asia and Silk Road
• Afghanistan and Pakistan
• Himalayas: Nepal, Tibet
• Korea
• Japan
• Riboud collection (Textiles)
• Photographic archive
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