How about a Belgian sculptor who left an indelible mark? Today we admire the Louis-Eugène Simonis Bust. It commemorates a man whose artistry shaped Brussels. Simonis was born in Liège on July 11, 1810. He died in Koekelberg on his birthday in 1882.
Simonis’s journey began at the Academy of Fine Arts in Liège. He was a gifted student of François-Joseph Dewandre. A Lambert Darchis grant allowed him to study in Italy. He spent time in Bologna and Rome from 1829 to 1836. Carlo Finelli, Canova’s esteemed disciple, mentored him.
Returning to Belgium, Simonis chose Brussels. He wanted to freely pursue his art. He established his studio here. Simonis first showcased his sculptures in Belgium, France, and England. From 1842, monumental sculpture commissions consumed him. These commissions came from the Belgian government. The goal was to embody Belgium’s emerging national identity in stone.
Consider the equestrian statue of Godefroid de Bouillon on Place Royale. See also the Theatre de la Monnaie’s pediment. Don’t forget the Column of Congress’s circular bas-relief and lions. These are all Simonis’s work. His talent was diverse and impressive.
Public recognition followed. Simonis became a Koekelberg municipal councillor. He was elected to the Royal Academy of Belgium in the Fine Arts Class. He also became a member of the Institut de France. In 1863, he became director and professor at the Brussels Academy of Fine Arts. He remained until his resignation in 1877. Julien Dillens, Thomas Vinçotte, and Charles Samuel were among his students.
Simonis’s notable works include “Bacchus au Tigre” from 1834. Also from 1836, “Guerrier combattant pour la patrie” and “Enfant sauvant un lapin poursuivi par une levrette”. In 1839, he created “L’Innocence”. You can find it at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels.
Other pieces include “L’Enfant au tambour brisé” and “Jeune fille au bouquet” from 1842. He made the marble cenotaph of Canon Pierre-Joseph Triest in Brussels Cathedral in 1846. That same year, he sculpted the statue of Simon Stevin in Bruges.
His equestrian statue of Godefroid de Bouillon dates to 1848. Between 1851 and 1854, he created the bas-relief “L’Harmonie des passions humaines”. It decorates the Theatre de la Monnaie’s pediment in Brussels. In 1856, he created a bust of André Dumont. It resides at the Royal Academy of Belgium.
The Column of Congress features his work from 1859. This includes the high-relief drum representing the allegorical figures of the Nine Provinces and the Genius of Belgium. Also included is the seated figure symbolizing Freedom of Worship and the lions. In 1860, he sculpted a bust of Frère-Orban. It is at the Walloon Art Museum in Liège.
Simonis created “The Four Rivers” to decorate the old Gare du Nord in 1862. In 1866, he sculpted a statue of André Dumont. It stands on Place du Vingt-Août in Liège. He also created the statues of the apostles in the Saint-Jacques church in Liège. In 1875, he created the statue of Leopold I in Mons.
Koekelberg honoured Simonis by renaming the square where his studio stood Place Eugène Simonis. The metro station there has borne his name since 1982. In 2007, a sculptural composition in the shape of an “S” was inaugurated on the square. It was in his honour. Annie Jungers signed this composition. It incorporates a bust made by Simonis. There is also a Rue Eugène Simonis in Liège.
Simonis received several distinctions. He was an Officer and Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold. He was a Knight of the Order of Saint Michael of Bavaria. He also received the Order of the Medjidie.
So, as you stand before this bust, remember Louis-Eugène Simonis. He was a master sculptor. His works shaped Brussels and beyond. His legacy lives on in stone and memory.