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'Lady in Rose' by Charles Joseph Watelet ( 1867 – 1954 ) signed and dated 1924
Located in Knokke, BE
Charles Joseph Watelet
Beauraing 1867 – 1954 Brussels
Belgian Painter
'Lady in Rose'
Signature: signed lower right and dated 'Ch. Watelet 1924'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: im...
Category
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Landscape with Shepherds and Animals' by Louis - Pierre Verwée ( 1807 – 1877 )
Located in Knokke, BE
Verwée Louis-Pierre
Courtrai 1807 – 1877 Brussels
Belgian Painter
'Landscape with Shepherds and Animals by the Water'
Signature: signed lower right and dated 'L. P. Verwee 1851'
Me...
Category
Mid-19th Century Romantic Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
'View of Capri' by Adrianus Zwart ( 1903 – 1981 ) Dutch Painter
Located in Knokke, BE
Adrianus Zwart
Rijswijk 1903 – 1981 Zwolle
Dutch Painter
'View of Capri'
Signature: signed lower left and placed 'Capri Zwart'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size 50 x 72 ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Mediterranean Breakfast' by Antoine Daens (1871 – Brussels – 1946)
By Antoine Daens
Located in Knokke, BE
Antoine Daens
1871 – Brussels – 1946
Belgian Painter
'Mediterranean Breakfast'
Signature: signed lower right 'Ant. Daens.'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size 65,5 x 60,5 ...
Category
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Aquatic Plant' by De Prairie Bédier, 20th Century, French
Located in Knokke, BE
Bédier de Prairie
20th Century
French Painter
'Aquatic Plant'
Signature: signed lower left ‘Bédier de Prairie'
Medium: oil on panel
Dimensions: image size 11 x 41 cm, frame size 24...
Category
20th Century Realist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
'View of Bruges – Sint Anna Quarter' by Leo van der Smissen ( 1900 – 1966 )
Located in Knokke, BE
Leo van der Smissen
Dendermonde 1900 – 1966 Bruges
Belgian Painter
Bruges School
'View of Bruges – Sint Anna Quarter'
Signature: signed lower left 'L Van Der Smissen'
Medium: oil o...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Canal View from the Meebrug, Bruges' by André Hallet (1890 – 1959), dated 1921
By André Hallet
Located in Knokke, BE
André Hallet
Liège, Belgium 1890 – 1959 Kisenyi, Rwanda
Belgian Painter
'Canal View from the Meebrug, Bruges'
Description: This evocative painting presents a serene canal view from...
Category
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Along the Path, Oudenburg' by Louis Clesse (1889 – Brussels – 1961)
By Louis Clesse
Located in Knokke, BE
Louis Clesse
1889 – Brussels – 1961
Belgian Painter
'Along the Path, Oudenburg'
Signature: signed lower right 'Louis Clesse'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size 80 x 100 c...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Sunset at Sea by Joseph Schippers (1868 – Antwerp – 1950) signed and dated 1936
Located in Knokke, BE
Joseph Schippers
1868 – Antwerp – 1950
Belgian Painter
'Sunset at Sea'
Signature: signed lower right and dated 1936 'Jos. Schippers 1936’, signed and dated on revers 'Jos. Schipper...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Portrait of a Great Dane – Harlequin' by Octave Van Cuyck ( 1870 - 1956 )
Located in Knokke, BE
Van Cuyck Octave
Ostend 1870 – 1956 Liége
Belgian Painter
'Portrait of a Great Dane – Harlequin'
This striking life-size portrait by Belgian painter Octave Van Cuyck captures the c...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Animal Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'A Still Life with Porcelain and Fruit' Frans Mortelmans (1865 – Antwerp – 1936)
By Frans Mortelmans
Located in Knokke, BE
Frans Mortelmans
1865 – Antwerp – 1936
Belgian Painter
'A Still Life with Porcelain and Fruit'
Signature: signed lower right 'F. Mortelmans'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Lenin and Krupskaya in a Winter Landscape' Petr Malyshev (1909 - Moskow - 1976)
Located in Knokke, BE
Malyshev Petr Nikolaevich - Пётр Николаевич Малышев
1909 – Moskow – 1976
Russia – Honoured Artist of the RSFSR
'Lenin and Krupskaya in a Winter Landscape'
- Vladimir Ilyich Ulyano...
Category
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Moonlight on the Sea' by Alfred Stevens (Brussels 1823 – 1906 Paris) dated 1892
By Alfred Stevens
Located in Knokke, BE
Alfred Stevens
Brussels 1823 – 1906 Paris
Belgian Painter
'Moonlight on the Sea'
Signature: signed lower right and dated 1892 ‘A Stevens 92'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size 81 x 65 cm, frame size 97,5 x 81,5 cm
Biography: Alfred Stevens was born in Brussels, into a family deeply connected with the visual arts. His older brother Joseph (1816–1892) and his son Léopold (1866–1935) were both painters, while his other brother Arthur (1825–1899) was an art dealer and critic. His father, a veteran of the Napoleonic wars under the army of William I of the Netherlands, was an art collector with a notable collection of watercolors by Eugène Delacroix and other esteemed artists.
Stevens’s upbringing was influenced by the environment of Café de l’Amitié, run by his maternal grandparents in Brussels, which served as a meeting place for prominent figures from the political, literary, and artistic spheres. Following the death of his father in 1837, Stevens left middle school to enroll at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. There, he came under the tutelage of François Navez, a Neo-Classical painter and former student of Jacques-Louis David, who was both the director of the academy and an old acquaintance of Stevens’s grandfather. Following a traditional curriculum, he initially drew from casts of classical sculptures and later transitioned to drawing from live models. In 1843, Stevens journeyed to Paris to join his already established brother, Joseph. He gained admission to the École des Beaux-Arts, the preeminent art school in Paris, although claims of him being a student of the director, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, are likely unfounded. One of his early works, The Pardon or Absolution (Hermitage, St. Petersburg), signed and dated 1849, showcased his mastery of a conventional naturalistic style influenced by 17th-century Dutch genre painting.
Stevens’s work was first publicly exhibited in 1851, when three of his paintings were featured at the Brussels Salon. He received a third-class medal at the Paris Salon in 1853, followed by a second-class medal at the Universal Exposition in Paris in 1855. His painting Ce qu’on appelle le vagabondage (Musée d’Orsay, Paris) garnered attention from Napoleon III, leading to a change in policy regarding the use of soldiers to remove the poor from the streets. Two other paintings displayed at the Salon in Antwerp in the same year, Chez soi or At Home and The Painter and his Model, introduced subjects from “la vie moderne” that became characteristic of his oeuvre: elegant young women dressed in contemporary fashion and artists in their studios. In 1857, Stevens made his first significant sale to a private collector when Consolation was purchased for a rumored 6,000 francs by the Berlin collector and dealer Ravéné. He and his brother also became part of the artistic milieu in Paris, frequenting salons hosted by Princess Mathilde and popular cafes, where they mingled with the likes of the Goncourt brothers, Théophile Gautier, and Alexandre Dumas. Stevens married Fanny Juliette Albertine Marie Hortense Blanc (1836-1891), a member of a wealthy Belgian family and a long-time acquaintance of the Stevens family, in 1858. The wedding was witnessed by the renowned painter Eugène Delacroix. The couple had four children: Leopold, Jean, Catherine, and Pierre. Stevens depicted his wife in numerous portraits, including Regrets and Memories. After her passing, he expressed enduring grief at her loss. During the 1860s, Stevens rose...
Category
Late 19th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'North Sea Dunes - Le Zwin' by René Toussaint (1902 - Spa - 1972)
Located in Knokke, BE
René Toussaint
1902 – Spa – 1972
Belgian Painter
'Belgian Coast – Le Zwin'
Signature: signed lower left ’R Toussaint’
Medium: oil on panel
Dimensions: image size 50 x 60 cm, frame...
Category
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
'Peaceful Landscape' by Edmond Van Dooren ( 1896 – Antwerp – 1965 )
Located in Knokke, BE
Edmond Van Dooren
1896 – Antwerp – 1965
Belgian Painter
'Peaceful Landscape'
Signature: signed lower left 'E. Van Dooren.'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size 90 x 105 cm
...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Cardinal in His Though' by Georges Croegaert ( Antwerp 1848 - 1923 Paris )
Located in Knokke, BE
Georges Croegaert
Antwerp 1848 – 1923 Paris
Belgian – French Painter
'Cardinal in His Thoughts'
Signature: signed lower right and placed ‘Georges Croegaert Paris’
Medium: oil on pa...
Category
Late 19th Century Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
'Nude Dressing' by Julien T’Felt (Ghent 1874 – 1936 Antwerp)
Located in Knokke, BE
Julien T’Felt
Ghent 1874 – 1936 Antwerp
Belgian Painter
'Nude Dressing'
Signature: signed lower right ‘Julien t’Felt’
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size 135 x 95 cm, fram...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Nude Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Terrace View dei Cappuccini, Convento di Amalfi, Charles Verbrugghe, 1877 – 1974
Located in Knokke, BE
Charles Verbrugghe
Bruges 1877 – 1974 Paris
Belgian Painter
'Terrace View dei Cappuccini, Convento di Amalfi'
Signature: signed middle right
Medium: oil on board
Dimensions: image ...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
'The Little Donkey' by Eugène Joseph Verboeckhoven (1798 – 1881), dated 1856
By Eugène Joseph Verboeckhoven
Located in Knokke, BE
Eugène Joseph Verboeckhoven
Waasten 1798 – 1881 Schaarbeek
Belgian Painter
'The Little Donkey'
Signature: signed lower left and dated 'Eugene Verboeckhoven 1856'
Medium: oil on pan...
Category
Mid-19th Century Romantic Animal Paintings
Materials
Wood Panel, Oil, Canvas
'Lady on the Sofa' by Herman Richir (1866 – Brussels – 1942)
By Herman Richir
Located in Knokke, BE
Herman Richir
1866 – Brussels – 1942
Belgian Painter
'Lady on the Sofa'
Signature: signed lower right
Medium: pastel on canvas
Dimensions: image size 134 x 106 cm, frame size 152,5...
Category
Late 19th Century Impressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Pastel
'Still Life with Red Poppies' 1921 by Léon De Smet (1881 – 1966), Belgian
By Léon De Smet
Located in Knokke, BE
Léon De Smet
Ghent 1881 – 1966 Deurle
Belgian Painter
'Still Life with Red Poppies'
Signature: signed lower left and dated ’Léon De Smet 1921’
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: im...
Category
Early 20th Century Pointillist Still-life Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Girl at the Mirror' by Victor Abeloos (1881 – 1965), signed and dated 1920
By Victor Abeloos
Located in Knokke, BE
Victor Abeloos
1881 – Brussels – 1965
Belgian Painter
'Girl at the Mirror'
Signature: signed lower left and dated 1920 'V. Abeloos. 1920'
Medium: oil on panel
Dimensions: ima...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
'View of Haarlem with the St. Bavo' by Johannes Joseph Destrée ( 1827 – 1888 )
Located in Knokke, BE
Johannes Joseph Destrée
Laeken 1827 – 1888 The Hague
Belgian Painter
'View of Haarlem with the St. Bavo Cathedral'
Signature: signed and dated ‘J.J.Destree ft 1851’
Medium: waterco...
Category
Mid-19th Century Realist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Watercolor, Handmade Paper
'Madame de Joannès et ses Filles' by Jules Leonard (1827-1897) Belgian - French
Located in Knokke, BE
Jules Leonard
Cerfontaine 1827 – 1897 Valenciennes
Belgian – French Painter
'Madame de Joannès et ses Filles'
Signature: signed lower right and dated ‘Jules Leonard 1881’, on the r...
Category
19th Century Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Le Jugement de Pâris' by Georges Charles Dufresne (1876 – 1936) French Painter
Located in Knokke, BE
Georges Charles Dufresne
Millemont 1876 – 1936 La Seyne-sur-Mer
French Painter
'Le Jugement de Pâris – The Judgment of Paris'
Signature: signed lower right 'dufresne'
Medium: oil o...
Category
Early 19th Century Fauvist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Still Life with Flower Vase on a Table' by David De Noter (1818 – 1892)
Located in Knokke, BE
David De Noter
Ghent 1818 – 1892 Bologhine
Belgian Painter
'Still Life with a Lapis Lazuli Coloured Flower Vase on a Table'
Signature: signed lower right 'David De Noter'
Medium: oil on panel
Dimensions: image size 35 x 27 cm, frame size 41,5 x 34 cm
Biography: David De Noter was born in Ghent on June 24, 1818, and passed away in Saint Eugène Bologhine, Algiers, on January 21, 1892. He was a renowned Belgian painter, celebrated for his detailed still lifes and interior scenes. Born in Ghent, he was the son of Jan-Baptist De Noter, a draftsman and architect, from whom he received his early artistic training. His mother, Carola Maya, married Jan-Baptist shortly before David’s birth. He had a brother, Michaël, who tragically passed away at a young age (1821-1823), and two sisters, Anne-Marie and Edalie.
In 1840, De Noter moved to Brussels, and five years later, on November 25, 1845, he married Clemence Wauters in Mechelen. Together, they had seven children. His son Raphaël would also become a painter.
By the 1860s, De Noter had relocated to Paris, where it is believed he shared a studio with the well-known art dealer J. Goupil around 1864. In his later years, De Noter and his family moved to Algiers, North Africa, where he contributed a floral still life to the Algiers Museum in 1870. By around 1879, he was living in Le Nador, near Marengo.
David De Noter is primarily celebrated for his exquisite still lifes featuring flowers, vegetables, seafood, game, and fruit. He also painted detailed kitchen and salon interiors, as well as genre scenes, often with a strong focus on still life elements within the broader composition. His style combined meticulous realism with a romantic atmosphere, capturing both the beauty and mood of his subjects.
During his time in Algiers, De Noter began painting local scenes, including views of the Kasbah of Algiers.
Throughout his career, De Noter collaborated with notable artists such as Henri Leys, Guillaume Koller, Louis Tuerlinckx, and Alfred Stevens. His works remain highly valued on the art market today.
His paintings were exhibited in various cities, including Kortrijk, Brussels, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Paris. In 1854, he was awarded a gold medal at an exhibition in Brussels.
David De Noter’s artwork has been exhibited in prestigious galleries and museums across Europe, showcasing the enduring appeal of his detailed and romantic still life paintings. His works can be found in the permanent collections of several important institutions, including: Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels; Musée des Beaux-Arts, Cambrai; Stedelijk Museum, Kortrijk; Art Gallery, Leeds; John Selbach Museum, Maaseik; Museum Hof van Busleyden, Mechelen; Musée des Beaux-Arts, Mulhouse; Municipal Collection, Schaerbeek; Museo Revoltella, Trieste; Museo Municipal “Quiñones de León...
Category
Mid-19th Century Realist Still-life Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
“L’après-midi d’un faune” by Ker-Xavier Roussel (1867 – 1944) French Painter
Located in Knokke, BE
Ker-Xavier Roussel
Lorry-les-Metz 1867 – 1944 Etang-la-Ville
French Painter
'L’après-midi d’un faune'
Signature: signed lower left and right
Medium: pastel on paper mounted on boar...
Category
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Pastel, Paper, Board
'The Mischievous Little Artists' by Edgard Farasyn (1858 – Antwerp – 1938)
Located in Knokke, BE
Edgard Farasyn
1858 – Antwerp – 1938
Belgian Painter
'The Mischievous Little Artists'
Signature: signed middle lower left and dated 'Edg. Farasyn 1881'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimens...
Category
Late 19th Century Romantic Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Three Sisters' by Hendrik Maarten Krabbé (London 1868 – 1931 Amsterdam)
By Hendrik Maarten Krabbe
Located in Knokke, BE
Krabbé Hendrik Maarten
London 1868 – 1931 Amsterdam
Dutch Painter
'Three Sisters'
Signature: signed top right 'Krabbé'
Medium: watercolour heightened with white
Dimensions: image size 60,5 x 50,5 cm, frame size 85 x 75 cm
Biogtaphy: Hendrik Maarten Krabbé, also known as Heinrich Martin Krabbé, was a distinguished Dutch painter, draftsman, watercolorist, etcher, illustrator, and lithographer. Born in London on May 4, 1868, and passing away in Amsterdam on December 22, 1931, Krabbé left a significant artistic legacy.
After one year of attending the Higher Civic School (HBS), Krabbé was forced to abandon formal education due to tuberculosis, but he continued to develop his talent with private drawing lessons at home. From 1883 to 1888, he pursued his studies at the School of Applied Arts and the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam, where he trained under notable artists such as August Allebé and Rudolf Stang, learning techniques in drawing, painting, watercoloring, etching, and lithography.
In 1896, Krabbé began his career as a teacher at the School of Applied Arts in Haarlem, a position he held for a decade. His influence extended to many future renowned artists, including Charles Beck, Ger Gerrits...
Category
19th Century Impressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Watercolor
'A winter landscape with an ox-cart' by Willem De Klerk (1800 – 1876)
Located in Knokke, BE
Willem De Klerk
1800 – Dordrecht – 1876
Dutch Painter
'A winter landscape with an ox-cart on a wooded road near a village'
Signature: signed lower left ‘W. de Klerk f’
Medium: oi...
Category
Early 19th Century Romantic Landscape Paintings
Materials
Ink, Watercolor, Pencil
'Various colourful roses in a glass vase' by F. Clairval
Located in Knokke, BE
F. Clairval
Active around 1900
Floral Painter
'Various colourful roses in a glass vase'
Signature: signed lower left ‘F. Clairval'
Medium: oil on board
Dimensions: image size 67 x...
Category
Early 20th Century Realist Still-life Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
'Studies of Young Breton Women' by Eugène Louis Boudin (1824 – 1898)
Located in Knokke, BE
Eugène Louis Boudin
Honfleur 1824 – 1898 Deauville
French Painter
'Etude de jeunes Bretonnes'
Signature: signed lower right, revers named and defined 'Studies of young Breton women...
Category
Late 19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
'Diana, Goddess of the Chase' by Artist 17th Century, French School, Circa 1660
Located in Knokke, BE
Artist 17th Century
French School
Circa 1660
'Diana, Goddess of the Chase'
Signature: not signed
Medium: tempera on paper applied to oak panel
Dimensions: image size 23.5 x 18.5 cm...
Category
17th Century Baroque Portrait Paintings
Materials
Paper, Egg Tempera, Wood Panel
'First Steps' by Bernard J. Blommers (1845 – 1914), signed 'B/Blommers'
By Bernardus Johannes (Bernard) Blommers
Located in Knokke, BE
Bernard Blommers
1845 – The Hague – 1914
Dutch Painter
'First Steps'
Signature: signed lower right 'B/Blommers'
Medium: oil on canvas, ca. 1865
Dimensions: image size 56,5 x 76,5 c...
Category
19th Century Romantic Interior Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Together in Prayer' by Joseph Meganck ( 1807 – 1891 ), signed and dated 1845
Located in Knokke, BE
Joseph Meganck
1807 – Aalst – 1891
Belgian Painter
'Together in Prayer'
Signature: signed lower right and dated 1845 'Meganck 45'
Medium: oil on panel
Dimensions: image 46 x 37 c...
Category
Mid-19th Century Romantic Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
'Young Girl Knitting' by Guillaume Eberhard (1879 – 1949) signed and dated 1906
Located in Knokke, BE
Eberhard Guillaume
1879 – Maastricht – 1949
Dutch Painter
'Young Girl Knitting'
Signature: signed lower left and dated 'G Eberhard 1906'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image siz...
Category
Early 20th Century Romantic Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Still Life with Flowers in a Vase' by Albert Pinot (Brussels 1875 – 1962 Paris)
By Albert Pinot
Located in Knokke, BE
Albert Pinot
Brussels 1875 – 1962 Paris
Belgian Painter
'Still Life with Flowers in a Vase'
Signature: signed lower right 'A. Pinot'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size 56...
Category
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
‘Oriental Girls - Mediants à Tanger’, Jean François Portaels ( 1818 - 1895 )
Located in Knokke, BE
Jean François Portaels
1818 - Brussels - 1895
Belgian Painter
‘Oriental Girls - Mediants à Tanger, Maroc’
Signature: signed lower right ‘J. Portaels’
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size 40,5 x 28,5 cm, frame size 67,5 x 56 cm
Biography: Jean François Portaels, also known as Jan Portaels, was a versatile Belgian painter born on April 3, 1818, in Vilvoorde and passed away on February 8, 1895, in Schaerbeek. He was celebrated for his genre scenes, biblical stories, landscapes, portraits, and Orientalist subjects. As a teacher and director of the Academy of Fine Arts of Ghent and the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Portaels significantly impacted Belgian art, becoming a pivotal figure in the Belgian Orientalist school. His works were known for their 'everyday elegance and feminine grace,' and he played a crucial role in influencing the next generation of Belgian artists, including notable figures like Théo van Rysselberghe.
Portaels was the son of a wealthy brewer who also served as Vilvoorde's mayor. Showing an early passion for drawing, he was sent to the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels in 1836, where he studied under François-Joseph Navez, a former student of Jacques-Louis David. Navez invited him to his studio, which was renowned at the time, allowing Portaels to refine his skills alongside other talented students like Charles de Groux and Joseph Stallaert.
In 1841, Portaels moved to Paris, enrolling at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and studying under Paul Delaroche. He became influenced by the emerging Orientalist movement, which was gaining traction in Paris. In 1842, he won the Grand Prix de Rome, which funded his travels across Italy and other regions, including Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Judea, Spain, Hungary, and Norway. These journeys profoundly influenced his artistic vision, particularly his Orientalist works.
Upon his return to Belgium in 1847, Portaels was appointed Director of the academy in Ghent. In 1849, he married Marie Hélène Navez, the daughter of his first teacher. Despite being offered the directorship of the Brussels Academy, he initially declined, opting to preserve his independence. He later accepted a teaching position at the Academy and eventually became its director in 1878, succeeding Eugène Simonis.
Portaels was known for his broad range of artistic talents, including history painting, portraiture, and genre art. He was particularly recognised for his Orientalist depictions, often portraying the 'Oriental woman' with distinctive features like arched eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes. His style, marked by charm and elegance, distinguished him from the dominant artistic movements of Classicism and Romanticism.
He was a pioneer in monumental art in Belgium, working with Jean Baptiste van Eycken to introduce fresco techniques like water glass painting...
Category
Mid-19th Century Impressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'The Departure of the Israelites from Egypt' by Frans Francken the Younger
Located in Knokke, BE
Frans Francken the Younger
1581 - Antwerp - 1642
Flemish Painter
'The Departure of the Israelites from Egypt – The Exodus', c. 1610 - 1620
Medium: pen in sepia on paper
Dimensions: mage size 26 x 34,5 cm, frame size 55 x 65,5 cm
Biography: Frans Francken the Younger, born in Antwerp in 1581 and passing away on May 6, 1642, also in Antwerp, was a distinguished Flemish painter. He is recognized as the most prominent and productive member of the renowned Francken family of artists. Francken explored a wide range of subjects, creating large altarpieces for churches and producing smaller works depicting historical, mythological, and allegorical scenes. Notably, his depictions of collectors’ cabinets established a popular new genre of art during his era. He was known for collaborating with other artists, enriching their works with his skilled renderings of figures and narrative elements, complementing specialists in landscape, architectural scenes, and floral still-life painting.
Francken was born to Frans Francken the Elder and Elisabeth Mertens. His father was a pupil of Antwerp’s leading history painter, Frans Floris, and a significant creator of altarpieces in Flanders during his time. Francken received his artistic training under the guidance of his father. Additionally, it is possible that Frans and his brother, Hieronymus Francken II, received further instruction in the workshop of their uncle, Hieronymus Francken I, in Paris.
A versatile artist, Francken made significant contributions to various genres within Flemish art, introducing new themes and subjects. Many of his works comprised small-scale historical, allegorical, and biblical cabinet paintings, often emphasizing figures. He is credited with either inventing or popularizing several novel themes that gained popularity in Flemish painting, including genre scenes featuring monkeys (also known as singeries) and Kunstkammer or gallery paintings, presenting a plethora of natural and artistic treasures against a neutral wall. Francken introduced various other unconventional themes that later gained traction, such as the ‘Triumphal Procession of Amphitrite’ and ‘Croesus and Solon.’ He also produced a series of paintings depicting witches and witchcraft, including portrayals of witches’ sabbats.
His remarkable paintings are held in the collections of numerous major museums throughout Europe. Francken specialized in rendering the human figure, as evidenced by etched and engraved portraits of the artist by Anthony van Dyck (after Peter Paul Rubens), identifying him with the Latin inscription: ‘ANTVERIÆ PICTOR HVMANARVM FIGVRARVM’ (Figure painter of Antwerp). He was frequently invited to contribute figures to compositions by other esteemed artists, including landscape artists such as Tobias Verhaecht, Abraham Govaerts, and Joos de Momper...
Category
Early 17th Century Baroque Interior Paintings
Materials
Paper, Pen
'Portrait of a Man in a Black Coat' by Jean-François Portaels (1818 – 1895)
Located in Knokke, BE
Jean-François Portaels
1818 – Brussels – 1895
Belgian Painter
'Portrait of a Man in a Black Coat'
Signature: signed middle lower left, dated 1878 and named ‘J. Portaels 1878. Ch. Lefebvre'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size 60,5 x 50,5 cm
Biography: Jean-François Portaels, also known as Jan Portaels, was a versatile Belgian painter born on April 3, 1818, in Vilvoorde and passed away on February 8, 1895, in Schaerbeek. He was celebrated for his genre scenes, biblical stories, landscapes, portraits, and Orientalist subjects. As a teacher and director of the Academy of Fine Arts of Ghent and the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Portaels significantly impacted Belgian art, becoming a pivotal figure in the Belgian Orientalist school. His works were known for their ‘everyday elegance and feminine grace,’ and he played a crucial role in influencing the next generation of Belgian artists, including notable figures like Théo van Rysselberghe.
Portaels was the son of a wealthy brewer who also served as Vilvoorde’s mayor. Showing an early passion for drawing, he was sent to the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels in 1836, where he studied under François-Joseph Navez, a former student of Jacques-Louis David. Navez invited him to his studio, which was renowned at the time, allowing Portaels to refine his skills alongside other talented students like Charles de Groux and Joseph Stallaert.
In 1841, Portaels moved to Paris, enrolling at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and studying under Paul Delaroche. He became influenced by the emerging Orientalist movement, which was gaining traction in Paris. In 1842, he won the Grand Prix de Rome, which funded his travels across Italy and other regions, including Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Judea, Spain, Hungary, and Norway. These journeys profoundly influenced his artistic vision, particularly his Orientalist works.
Upon his return to Belgium in 1847, Portaels was appointed Director of the academy in Ghent. In 1849, he married Marie Hélène Navez, the daughter of his first teacher. Despite being offered the directorship of the Brussels Academy, he initially declined, opting to preserve his independence. He later accepted a teaching position at the Academy and eventually became its director in 1878, succeeding Eugène Simonis.
Portaels was known for his broad range of artistic talents, including history painting, portraiture, and genre art. He was particularly recognized for his Orientalist depictions, often portraying the ‘Oriental woman’ with distinctive features like arched eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes. His style, marked by charm and elegance, distinguished him from the dominant artistic movements of Classicism and Romanticism.
He was a pioneer in monumental art in Belgium, working with Jean Baptiste van Eycken to introduce fresco techniques like water glass painting...
Category
Late 19th Century Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Lady in Thoughts' by Jules Lentrein (1875 – Brussels – 1943)
Located in Knokke, BE
Lentrein Jules
Brussels 1875 – 1943
Belgian Painter
‘Lady in Thoughts’
Signature: signed lower right A l’ami Aug. Oleffe‘J Lentein’
Medium: watercolour
Dimensions: image size 22 ...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Watercolor
'Still Life with Flowers in a Vase and Fan' by Fernand Toussaint ( 1873 – 1956 )
By Fernand Toussaint
Located in Knokke, BE
Fernand Toussaint
1873 – Brussels – 1956
Belgian Painter
'Still Life with Flowers in a Vase and Folding Fan'
Signature: signed lower left 'Toussaint'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensio...
Category
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Constant David Ludovic Artz (Paris 1870 – 1951 Soest) - 'Family of Ducks'
By Constant David Ludovic Artz
Located in Knokke, BE
Constant David Ludovic Artz
Paris 1870 – 1951 Soest
Dutch Painter
'Family of Ducks along a brook'
Signature: signed lower left ‘Constant Artz’
Medium: waterco...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Watercolor
Adoration of the Shepherds by Gillis Mostaert (1534 - 1598) Flemish Renaissance
Located in Knokke, BE
Gillis Mostaert
Hulst 1534 – 1598 Antwerp
Flemish Painter
'Adoration of the Shepherds'
Medium: oil on panel
Dimensions: image size 38,5 x 46,5 cm, frame size 54 x 62 cm
Provenance...
Category
16th Century Renaissance Interior Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
'Still Life with Flowers and Fruit ' by Jean Eritziane, Smyrna 1850 – 1925 Paris
Located in Knokke, BE
Jean Eritziane
Smyrna 1850 – 1925 Paris
Armenian – French Painter
'Still Life with Flowers and Fruit on a Table'
Signature: signed and dated lower right 'Eritziane 1921'
Medium: oi...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
South African Girl by Alfred Richard Martin (1871 – 1939) British-South African
Located in Knokke, BE
Alfred Richard Martin
Liverpool 1871 – 1939 Johannesburg
British-South African Painter
'Portrait of a Zulu Girl, KwaZulu-Natal, South-Africa'
Medium:...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
'Gathering fruit and flowers' by Vicente Mulet y Claver (1897 – Valencia – 1945)
Located in Knokke, BE
Vicente Mulet y Claver
1897 – Valencia – 1945
Spanish Painter
'Gathering fruit and flowers'
Signature: signed lower right 'V Mulet' and with the artist's monogram, circa 1930
Mediu...
Category
Early 20th Century Pre-Raphaelite Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'La Leçon de Chant – The Singing Lesson' by Théodule Augustin Ribot, 1823 – 1891
By Théodule Augustin Ribot
Located in Knokke, BE
Théodule Augustin Ribot
St Nicolas d’Attez 1823 – 1891 Colombes
French Painter
'La Leçon de Chant – The Singing Lesson'
Signature: signed lower left 't.ribot'
Medium: oil on canva...
Category
19th Century Realist Interior Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'A Gentleman and a Maid' by Charles Léon Cardon (1850 – 1921) signed, dated 1880
Located in Knokke, BE
Charles Léon Cardon
1850 – Brussels – 1921
Belgian Painter
'A Gentleman and a Maid'
Signature: signed top right and dated ‘Ch. Léon Cardon - 1880’
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions...
Category
Late 19th Century Impressionist Interior Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Sunset in a Winter Forest' by Cornelis Kuijpers ( 1864 – 1932 ) Dutch Painter
Located in Knokke, BE
Cornelis Kuijpers
Gorinchem 1864 – 1932 Soest
Dutch Painter
'Sunset in a Winter Forest'
Signature: signed lower right ‘Cornelis Kuijpers’
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image si...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'River Thames and the Tower Bridge, London' by Charles Hug ( 1899 – 1979 )
Located in Knokke, BE
Charles Hug
St. Gallen 1899 – 1979 Zurich
Swiss Painter
'River Thames and the Tower Bridge, London'
Signature: signed lower left and dated 'Charles Hug, London '61'
Medium: oil on ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'Une Consultation de Sigmund Freud' by Hubert - Denis Etcheverry (1867 – 1950)
Located in Knokke, BE
Hubert-Denis Etcheverry
Bayonne 1867 – 1950 Paris
French Painter
'Une Consultation de Sigmund Freud'
Signature: signed lower right and dated ‘D. Etcheverry / Paris 1900’
Medium: oi...
Category
Early 20th Century Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'La musique et les roses' by Dietz Edzard, (Bremen 1893 – 1963 Paris)
By Dietz Edzard
Located in Knokke, BE
Dietz Edzard
Bremen 1893 – 1963 Paris
German Painter
'La musique et les roses'
Signature: signed lower left ‘D Edzard’
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: ima...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'A View of Ghent' by Paul Madeline (1863 – Paris – 1920), French Painter
By Paul Madeline
Located in Knokke, BE
Paul Madeline
1863 – Paris – 1920
French Painter
'A View of Ghent'
Signature: signed lower right ‘P. Madeline’
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size 46,5 x 55,5 cm, frame s...
Category
Late 19th Century Post-Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
‘Cats Playing around a Mirror’ by Joseph Bail (1862 – 1921), French Painter
Located in Knokke, BE
Joseph Bail
Limonest 1862 – 1921 Paris
French Painter
‘Cats Playing around a Mirror’
Signature: signed lower right ‘Bail Joseph’
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size 45,5...
Category
19th Century Romantic Animal Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
‘Fishermen’s Cove with two fishing boats on the beach’ by Johan Hendrik Meijer
By Johan Hendrik Louis Meijer
Located in Knokke, BE
Johan Hendrik Louis Meijer
Amsterdam 1809 – 1866 Utrecht
Dutch Painter
‘Fishermen’s Cove with two fishing boats on the beach’
Signature: signed lower right ‘L Meijer’
Medium: oil o...
Category
19th Century Romantic Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
‘Peasant Children walking the Donkeys’ by Edgar Bundy (1862 – 1922), dated 1885
Located in Knokke, BE
Edgar Bundy
Brighton 1862 – 1922 London
British Painter
‘Peasant Children walking the Donkeys’
Signature: signed lower right and dated ‘Edgar Bundy 1885'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dim...
Category
Late 19th Century Romantic Animal Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
“A Lady playing with a Cat” by Paul De Frick (1864 - Paris - 1935), dated 1896
By Paul de Frick
Located in Knokke, BE
Paul De Frick
1864 - Paris - 1935
French Painter
“A Lady playing with a Cat”
Signature: signed lower left and dated ‘P. de Frick. 96’
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size ...
Category
Late 19th Century Impressionist Interior Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
‘Meal Time for all’ by Hermann Werner (1816 – 1905), signed and dated 1870
By Hermann Werner
Located in Knokke, BE
Hermann Werner
Samswegen 1816 – 1905 Düsseldorf
German Painter
‘Meal Time for all’
Signature: signed lower right and dated ‘H. Werner. 1870
'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: ima...
Category
Late 19th Century Romantic Interior Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'A Walk along the Snowy Landscape’ by Franciscus Lodewijk Van Gulik, dated 1878
Located in Knokke, BE
Franciscus Lodewijk Van Gulik
Maastricht 1841 - 1899 Rotterdam
Dutch Painter
'A Walk along the Snowy Landscape’
Signature: signed lower right and dated 'Frans van Gulik 1878'
Mediu...
Category
19th Century Romantic Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
