The leading European foundations active in safeguarding our cultural heritage are presenting some of the major works from their collections as part of the exhibition ‘From Tiepolo to Richter, European dialogue’.

The exhibition will remind us how, over the centuries, heritage has encouraged encounters between Europeans. An exhibition not to be missed! From May 24 to September 30, 2018 at the Art & History Museum, in the centre of Brussels.

The initiative was born on the occasion of the European Year of Cultural Heritage, a perfect opportunity for European foundations active in this field to make the public more aware of their work. Art and culture have always been excellent ambassadors. The prestigious works to be shown in Brussels provide echoes of the great and small history of all Europeans.

Thanks to engravings, copies and drawings that circulated around Europe, but also to the travels and visits to studios of fellow artists, creative minds found new inspiration and ideas, which they integrated into their own works. Art lovers and collectors in turn were also on the lookout for information on the latest innovations and developments. They never ceased extending and nurturing their networks so as to be rapidly kept abreast of everything that was happening. As for the works of art themselves, whether they were acquired, donated or proudly exhibited during important visits, they stimulated economic, cultural, political and social exchanges.

The works have been selected by each of the 14 participating foundations and result in an astonishing variety of works being exhibited alongside each other. Artists from a bygone age include Auguste Rodin, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Jacob Jordaens and Albrecht Dürer whilst the modern era is represented by works created by Gerhard Richter, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Constant, Lucio Fontana, Maria Helena Vieira da Silva and Léon Spilliaert among others.  Each foundation has written a short presentation about its works. These texts focus mainly on European aspects of each object and its creator. They are not intended to invite a new look at the works and their social role.

An initiative of the King Baudouin Foundation, in collaboration with Fondazione Cariplo, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lucca, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca, Fundação Oriente, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, “La Caixa” Banking Foundation, Olbricht Foundation, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Saastamoinen Foundation, Svenska Kulturfonden and Vereniging Rembrandt. The exhibition marks the occasion of the general assembly of the European Foundation Centre, which this year is held in Brussels. 

The exhibition will also serve to underline the importance of the activities undertaken by European foundations to encourage the preservation of our cultural heritage for future generations. 

Practical:

From May 24 to September 30, 2018
Art & History Museum
Address: Parc du Cinquantenaire 10, 1000 Brussels
Opening hours: Tue – Sun: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm

The museum will be temporarily closed from from June, 25th until July,17th.