Belfius Art Collection

File:De roof van de Sabijnse maagden (Rubens).jpg, 1640, The Rape of the Sabine Virgins]]

The Belfius Art Collection is a collection of Belgian art owned by the Belfius Bank (and thus as of August 2018 by the Belgian State, owner of Belfius since 2011).

History

The current collection of Belfius Bank is the combination of the collections of three older banks, which are now part of Belfius. Paribas Belgium collected art from the 16th to the 18th century, plus some contemporary (post-WWII) art. The {{Interlanguage link|Gemeentekrediet|nl}} collected Belgian art from 1860 to 1945. BACOB did not start collecting art until 1980, and focused on contemporary Belgian art. Belfius continued collecting art after the fusion of the banks, and the complete collection has grown to more than 4,300 works.{{cite web |title=Historiek |url=https://www.belfius-art-collection.be/be-nl/historiek |publisher=Belfius Art Collection |access-date=3 August 2018 |language=Dutch}}

This makes it the largest company-based Belgian art collection, while being considered one of the 100 most important worldwide.{{cite news |last1=Goffaux |first1=Pascal |title=Les couleurs de Belfius |url=https://www.rtbf.be/culture/arts/detail_les-couleurs-de-belfius?id=9958572 |access-date=3 August 2018 |work=RTBF |date=28 June 2018 |language=French}} The Belgian state took over the bank in 2011, so effectively owns the art collection as well.

Small selections of the collection are open to the public two Saturdays every month. The bank lends works to exhibitions as well.

Future

The plans, as of August 2018, to denationalize Belfius partially or completely by going to a stock exchange with it, have raised concerns about the future of the collection, with calls to separate the art collection from the bank and keep it completely in the hands of the government.{{cite news |title=Wat met de Belfius-kunstcollectie na beursgang? |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/03/15/wat-met-de-belfius-kunstcollectie-na-beursgang--/ |accessdate=3 August 2018 |agency=Belga |publisher=VRTnws |date=15 March 2018}}{{cite news |title=Veranker unieke kunstcollectie Belfius |url=https://www.tijd.be/opinie/algemeen/veranker-unieke-kunstcollectie-belfius/10025769.html |accessdate=3 August 2018 |work=De Tijd |date=27 June 2018 |language=Dutch}}

Collection

File:Léon Spilliaert (1909) - Golfbreker met paal.jpg, 1909, Breakwater]]

The collection is mainly focused on painting and some sculptures, but also contains tapestries, books, and furniture. The below list is based on the works described on the Belfius Art Collection website, and artists and artworks mentioned in other sources.

Gallery

Emile Claus De overstroming 1892.JPG|Emile Claus, 1892, The flood

Emile Claus - First Communion.jpg|Emile Claus, 1893, First communion

Jules De Bruycker - Kermesse noire.jpg|Jules De Bruycker, 1919, Black kermesse

Charles de Groux - Visiting the sick.JPG|Charles de Groux, Visiting the sick

Fernand Khnopff De tuin.JPG|Fernand Khnopff, The garden

Georges Minne Kind met waterzak 001.jpg|George Minne, 1898, Child with waterbag

Félicien Rops Sneeuw te Thozée.JPG|Félicien Rops, Snow in Thozée

Léon Spilliaert (1924) - Scheepswerf te Oostende.jpg|Léon Spilliaert, 1924, Shipyard in Ostend

Léon Spilliaert (1929) - Fontein in de sneeuw.jpg|Léon Spilliaert, 1929, Fountain in the snow

Brand van Antwerpen met het Paard van Troje.PNG|Daniel van Heil, Fire of Antwerp with the Trojan Horse

References

{{reflist}}