Hand-Painted Fine Art Reproductions of Famous Paintings

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium are more than two centuries old.
These are the major events that have marked this history...
French regime (1794-1815)
1794 : Numerous works of art were confiscated by the revolutionaries and placed in warehouses or sent to Paris.
1798 : Guillaume Bosschaert was appointed curator of the works collected in the former palace of Charles of Lorraine (former Court). He tried to recover other confiscated works.
1801 : The First Consul Bonaparte created, on the basis of this collection, the Museum of Brussels (of the Dyle department). Major works were sent by Paris over the next few years.
1803 : Opening of this Museum and publication of the first catalogue.
1811 : The ownership of this museum passed to the City of Brussels.
The Dutch regime (1815-1830)
King William I increased the collections and the size of the buildings of the former Court housing the Museum.
An independent Belgium (from 1830)
1835 : By royal decree, King Léopold I created in Brussels a national museum devoted to Belgian artists.
1842 : This museum, previously owned by the City of Brussels, was transferred to the Belgian State.
1845 : Creation of a section devoted to modern Belgian art.
1846 : The first by-laws of the "Royal Museum of painting and sculpture of Belgium", were published in Brussels.
1863 : Publication of the catalogue of Edouard Fétis comprising 361 works.1868 : The Antoine Wiertz Museum became part of the institution.
1887 : The collections of ancient art and sculpture were transferred from the former Court to new building constructed nearby by Alphonse Balat. The collections of modern art remained at the former Court where numerous exhibitions continued to be organised by different groups, notably the "XX" and the "Libre Esthétique".
1907 : Creation of The Friends of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
1911 :First Cubist exhibition, outside France, at the Museum of Modern Art (prefaced by Apollinaire).
1914 : Thanks to the de Grez donation of 4,250 drawings the museum was able to boast one of the most important collections of drawings in Belgium.
1919 : Change of name: "Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium" and constitution of the first scientific structure managed by a head curator.
1927 : New, definitive name: "Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium". Major Van Gogh exhibition.
1952 : Publication of the first scientific "Bulletin".
1959 : The Museum of Modern Art moved from the former Court. From 1962 to 1974 the museum was obliged to organise its exhibitions in cramped premises in the place Royale.
1963 : The "Century of Bruegel" exhibition.
1964 : Start of major extension and renovation works which are still being carried on today.
1965 : The "Century of Rubens" exhibition. The museum was given a new decisive scientific structure.
1974 : Inauguration of new extensions (53 rooms) enlarging the building constructed by Balat. Works of the 15th, 16th, and 19th centuries are exhibited there.
1976 : "Symbolism in Europe" exhibition.
1978 : The Constantin Meunier Museum became part of the institution.
1984 : Inauguration of the new Museum of Modern Art complex build by Roger Bastin, and of the rooms (17th and 18th centuries) renovated in the Balat building. Publication of the catalogues (last to date) of ancient painting and modern painting.
1992 : Inauguration of a new gallery of sculptures. Publication of the 19th century sculpture catalogue.
1997 : First exhibition of the Delvaux - Magritte - Ensor trilogy. The collections of the 19th century were transferred to the building overlooking the place Royale.