M-Collection continues to grow

June 11, 2022

The M Leuven collection is once more expanding, this time with exceptional pieces from the late Middle Ages as well as a few pieces from the 19th and 20th centuries. These outstanding works were created by artists such as Meunier, Borman and Roesen. The works were presented during the press preview on 19.05. and will be exhibited at M from 14 October.

"The works are in various ways strongly connected with Leuven. The oil sketch was painted by Gustave Van Aise on commission from by the then Leuven mayor Leopold Vander Kelen. Constantin Meunier taught at the art academy in Leuven. The Borman family and Joost Laroy have their roots here. Roesen was very active in the region and was probably also a from Leuven. With the current collection, M profiles itself on a regional as well as an (inter)national level. This profile is further strengthened by adding of remarkable pieces to M's collection," says Denise Vandevoort, alderman for culture and chairwoman of the M board.

Marjan Debaene, head of the collections department, explains further: "M" is a leading centre of knowledge on late Gothic and early modern sculpture, both nationally and internationally. We are very grateful to the City of Leuven, as well as to the generous donors and lenders, for supporting this expansion of our collection."

The added pieces

To name a few, there is a 19th-century Memento Mori skull that serves as a reminder of mortality, an oil sketch by Gustave Van Aise and a bozzetto or preparatory work by the Goyers studio from the same period, a sculpture of St Arnold of Metz made by Hendrik Roesen around 1500 a sculpture representing John the Baptist by Jan II or Passchier Borman, a Baroque statue in boxwood of Mary with child by the sculptor Nicolas van der Veken from Mechelen, a 20th-century communion-plate or paten by the important Leuven silversmith Dom Martin and a contemporary sculpture by Joost Laroy from Wijgmaal. To finish off and as the icing on the cake, a self-portrait medallion and two sculptures also join the important Constantin Meunier sub-collection.

Constantin Meunier 

Constantin Meunier (1831-1905) is one of the greatest Belgian sculptors. His work reflects the industrial, social and political developments of his time. These outstanding works serve as important reference pieces for his oeuvre. Moreover, there is only one other known specimen of the bronze Schovenbinder. The plaster façade sculpture L' industrie was only cast in bronze twice, one of which was commissioned by the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. M now owns the model for this work.

Oil sketch by Gustave Van Aise

In 1888, three paintings were commissioned by Leopold Vanderkelen, mayor of Leuven, for his residence. In preparation for this, Gustave Van Aise made an oil sketch. The paintings were added to his collection and served as furnishings for his home, the present-day Hôtel Vanderkelen, part of the M-site.

St Arnold of Metz

Hendrik Roesen’s oeuvre is rare and can primarily be seen in churches and in the M Collection. This statue is excellently sculpted and shows a depiction of St Arnold of Metz, the knight-bishop. M is the only museum that holds some of Roesen's work.

John the Baptist

Since the exhibition “Borman and sons”, M has been the international centre of knowledge and expertise on this sculptor family. The location of this sculpture was until recently unknown. M Leuven has one of the largest collections of Borman’s sculptures in the world and this sculpture certainly had to be included.

Most of the acquisitions will be on display from 14 October in 'Museum in motion' (room 0.E) at M. More information will be available soon www.mleuven.be.

‘Heilige Arnulf van Metz’, Hendrik Roesen, ca. 1480-1500, M Leuven, foto Cedric Verhelst voor meemoo. Art in Flanders

Borman and Sons. Virtual tour

Did you miss the exhibition 'Borman and Sons. The Best Sculptors'? No worries, visit the exhibition via the virtual tour.

Meunier in Leuven

Constantin Meunier was one of Belgium’s greatest sculptors. He was the first person to depict miners and industrial labourers in visual art, holding them up as icons of modernity. In 1887, he started teaching at the Academy in Leuven. This marked the beginning of his best and most productive period. His masterpiece ‘The Damp Explosion’ and his magnum opus ‘The Monument to Labour’ were created here on the Dyle. From 20 September 2014 until 18 January 2015, M is highlighting this lesser known period of his career in Leuven. The exhibition will feature his works, his inspirations, those he influenced and the posthumous museum project.

M-Collection continues to grow

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