An entire collection of valuable possessions in just one painting? That’s possible in the “Collector’s cabinet”, painted by Frans Francken II in 1619 and currently displayed in the KMSKA in Antwerp. In just one painting you can find drawings, paintings, coins, flowers, and exotic shells. If you look closely, you can discover many interesting details….
🌜Mechelen by night!
A nice memory from an evening walk in Mechelen. I took this picture at the Grote Markt, the main square. You can see the tower of the St. Rumbold’s Cathedral and the buildings next to it.The first on the left is the Beyaert Town House, currently hosting the post office. Not many people around and…
The Ciamberlani mansion
It is one of the most remarkable buildings of the Art Nouveau heritage in Brussels, located in rue Defacqz 48, 1050 Ixelles.Built by the notorious architect Paul Hankar in 1897, it is conceived at the behest of the mother of Albert Ciamberlani, a symbolist painter. The decorations were designed by Ciamberlani himself and carried out…
Fountain with kneeling youths
Five identical figures around the top of a water basin. It’s “Fountain with kneeling youths, designed by George Minne in 1898.The artwork is part of the collection of MSK museum in Ghent, the same city in which the artist himself was born. Despite the white color and the plainness of the artwork, the figure group…
Not only Brussels has it
Do we find Art Nouveau only in Brussels? Of course not! Let’s talk about this beautiful façade located in Tournai! This Art Nouveau house was built in 1903 by the architect Georges de Porre for Valentin Hoër, a German jeweler. After being damaged during the Second World War, it was acquired by the architect Walter…
Manolo in Bruges
My assistant Manolo really wanted to enjoy the last day of Christmas vibes in Bruges. We went there and walked all day around the city. I showed him narrow hidden streets and beautiful churches. In one of the pictures, you can see Manolo admiring the tondo in enameled terracotta, depicting a Madonna with Child (a…
Villa Cavrois (France), a modern castle
Between guided tours and study sessions, I finally had the chance to visit Villa Cavrois, located in Croix, nearby Roubaix (France), a stone’s throw from Brussels. The Villa was created between 1929 and 1932 for Paul Cavrois, industrialist and owner of the Cavrois-Mahieu company, and his family. It is the work of Robert Mallet-Stevens, an…
Best wishes from Manolo and Sara
While I’m hard-working, my assistant Manolo is having a stroll in the city center with his Santa hat. He’s walking inside the Galerie Ravenstein in Brussels, admiring Christmas decorations (it’s raining cats and dogs today). It’s not a very efficient assistant but I can’t scold him. He’s too cute and he’s loved by my followers….
Discovering Belgian art with a Spanish group
Cold weather and traffic cannot stop me! I met the bravest tourists ever, never afraid of discovering Belgium! Walking around with freezing temperatures and queuing on highways are a big part of my job as a tour guide in winter time. But I have to be honest with you, what do I remember about the…
Amazing view of the Grand-Place of Brussels
One of the best moments of my last work days: assisting a French group during a team building at this great location, Le Roy d’Espagne.
Sara tour guide in Belgium 