Royal Museums of Arts and History

Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire - Royal Museums of Arts and History, Belgium The eventful history of the Museum begins formally in 1835, with the foundation of the Musée d’Armes Anciennes, d’Armures d’Objets d’Art et de Numismatique, but the heart of the collection had been put together much earlier. The most remarkable objects had been kept in the Royal Arsenal – in particular, diplomatic gifts presented to the Dukes of Burgundy and the Hapsburgs, curiosities and mementoes, including the so-called cradle of the Emperor Charles, or the mantle of Montezuma and the horse of Infanta Isabella. Upon its foundation in 1835, the Museum was installed in the Porte de Hal/Hallepoort, but it became soon apparent that the space was inadequate. The construction of two pavilions in the Cinquantenaire Park made it possible in 1889 to move part of the collections, which were set up in the north wing of the Cinquantenaire. The move contributed to the achievement of Leopold II’s conception of the Cinquantenaire Park, as a place of recreation, together with a cultural centre. The overall plans, drawn up by G. Bordiau, provided for the construction of a large museum in the south wing. It was not until 1922 however that this was achieved. However, the collections of antiquities had already left the north wing in 1905, and were installed in the Pavillon de l’Antiquité. It was entirely destroyed by fire in 1946, but was rebuilt in 1958, following the original symmetrical design. The last modification was made in 1992, when a large gallery for temporary exhibitions was built, together with an auditorium and foyer in the basement. Over the years the Museum’s collections have grown steadily, thanks to important donations, sometimes of significant private collections, by generous patrons. This heritage has also been supplemented by finds from excavations in Belgium and abroad. Though the wealth of the collections is famous throughout the scientific world and attested to by numerous publications, the Museum still needs to be much better known amongst the general public; This is why the Museum is eager to develop a popular –scientific approach to the collections, which are open to everyone wishing to engage in the fascinating dialogue with archaeology and art history. For this reason regularly a number of exhibition rooms is now being adapted or re-organised. The Cinquantenaire Museum is part of the Royal Museums for Art and History, together with the Porte de Hal/Hallepoort, the Japanese Pagoda - the Chinese Pavilion - the Museum for Japanese Art and the Museum of Instruments. Entering the stately building, one begins a journey through time and space, a journey through the history and civilizations of mankind. The collections on display here bear witness to virtually all the artistic disciplines (except painting) of the five continents, excluding Sub-Saharan Africa. They are divided into four large ensembles: Antiquity, National Archaeology, the Non-European civilizations and European Arts and crafts. In total some 650 000 objects are spread over 60 000 m2 of exhibition galleries and in the reserves.