BRUSSELS. – In Flemish: Brussel, capital of Belgium, is ecclesiastically dependent on the Archdiocese of Mechelen (v.), which has founded in Brussels and directly oversees the Institut Saint-Louis, comprising a Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, a School of Philosophical and Religious Sciences, and the Higher Institute of Commerce recognized by the State, with two sections, one French and one Flemish. The Collège Saint-Michel in Brussels for secondary education is run by the Society of Jesus; there is also the current residence of the Bollandists (v.) and their very rich library.
The State has in Brussels a Free University founded by Belgian liberals in 1834 in the former palace of Cardinal Granvelle, with faculties of philosophy, sciences, law, medicine, and applied sciences; in the Leopold Park, the Physiological Institute (1895); also the Institute of Hygiene, Bacteriology and Therapeutics, an Anatomical Institute (1896–97), a Commercial Institute (1904), and an International Centre for Contemporary World Literature (1907) with a very extensive library. Among the academies are: the Royal Academy of Brussels for Sciences, Letters and Arts (1772); the Royal Academy of Medicine (1841); the Royal Academy of Fine Arts; the Royal Society of Archaeology of Brussels (1887); the Royal Geographical Society; the International Institute of Bibliography (1895) with its special Bulletin; the Royal Conservatory of Music with a rich library and many manuscripts; and the Higher Institute of Commerce for Women. Brussels is the seat of the International Academic Union (1918); the International Research Council (1918–19); the International Union of Cities (1913); the Belgian Society for Oriental Studies (1921); and the Egyptological Foundation Queen Elizabeth (1923). It also has higher schools: of Political and Social Sciences, of Commerce, of Pedagogy, and of Criminological Sciences; five institutes: of Oriental and Slavic Philology and History, of Urban Planning, of Aeronautical Constitutions, of Telecommunications and Acoustics, and of Sociology Solvay.
Enrico Josi
Art. – The oldest and most important monument is the collegiate church of SS. Michael and Gudula: begun in 1220 and completed only in the 16th century, it shows the evolution of the Gothic style: in the apse in transitional forms between Romanesque and Gothic (1226–30), in the choir in early Gothic (1226–50–80), and in the grand central and right side nave in flamboyant Gothic (14th century). In the 15th century, Jean van der Eycken designed the left nave and collaborated with Jan van Ruysbroeck on the quadrangular towers flanking the main portal. Notable within are the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament by Pieter van Wyenhove (1534–39),
Brussels – Façade of the church of St. Gudula (13th–15th centuries).
the mausolea of John II, Duke of Brabant, and the Counts of Mérode, the stained-glass windows (notably those of the transept, donated by Charles V, designed by Bernard van Orley [1537–38], and of the apse, designed by Jan de Vriendt [16th century]), the pulpit of Truth by Hendrik Verbruggen (1669), the alabaster altarpiece by Jan Mone (1536), and the statues of the apostles by Lucas Faydherbe and Jérôme Duquesnoy the Younger (1640).
Of all Flanders and Brabant, the most majestic town hall is that of Brussels, an example of picturesque and rich Gothic: Jacques van Thienen built the left wing in 1402, in 1444 Charles the Bold laid the first stone for the right wing; this was begun in 1451, while the pyramidal tower, remarkable for the lightness and elegance of its tracery, was being constructed by Jan van Ruysbroeck (1449–54). The rear side of the town hall (Louis XIV style) is the work of Corneille van Nerven (1706–17); the interior is rich in Brussels tapestries from the 16th–18th centuries and historical paintings by Jacques de Lalaing. The square in front of the town hall is of interest for the cloister of palaces that were once the seats of the ancient guilds, built in the rich Brabantine Baroque style enriched with classical elements; among them, the Maison du Roi, partly rebuilt in the 19th century, is particularly important for its interesting museum, which includes, among other things, porcelains and majolicas from the 17th–19th centuries and a very rare gilded wooden altarpiece from 1520. Worthy of mention are the church of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires-au-Sablon in late Gothic style (choir 1420–35, transept and main nave 1450, portal first half of the 16th century, 15th-century sculptures and 17th-century Baroque chapels), the very ancient Notre-Dame-de-La-Chapelle (begun in 1134, Romanesque transept 1150, nave 1210–40), with apostle figures carved (1646–55) by J. Duquesnoy and Lucas Faydherbe, surmounted by the elegant Pastorana bell tower (1695–1708) itself raised on a Gothic tower (1504–1508); the church of the Trinity is in late Renaissance style, with the façade of 1621 by Francart; outside the city, the church of St. Peter at Anderlecht repeats forms of flamboyant Gothic (15th–16th centuries) and contains, among the most notable things, a Romanesque crypt (1078), an Adoration of the Magi triptych by Hieronymus Bosch, and a sepulchral statue of Jean de Walcourt (14th century).
Numerous are the modern constructions: the Royal Palace, outwardly very simple, was modified in 1904 by the architect Maquet. The interior is sumptuous, especially the grand staircase, a masterpiece by the architect Balat, who also designed the Palace of Fine Arts. The Palace of the Nations, dating from the time of Maria Theresa, was rebuilt in 1883 according to plans by Beyaert after a fire; the bas-relief on the pediment above the eight fluted Ionic columns is by Cojdecharles.
Massive constructions are the Palace of Justice by Poelaert (1866–83), the Théâtre de la Monnaie, and the much-debated Stock Exchange, built to a design by Suys.
Worthy of special mention are the museums: the Museum of Fine Arts is one of the first in Europe for works by the Primitives and the Flemish; the Modern Museum comprises works by Belgian painters from David to the present; the Cinquantenaire Museum has fine Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities, medieval goldsmith work, tapestries, and porcelains; the Arms Museum is located in the old fortified gate of Hal. The sculpture gallery houses mainly works from the 17th to the 20th centuries.
In the Royal Library, whose core dates back to that of the Dukes of Burgundy, are found the Evangeliary of St. Lawrence of Liège (10th century), the Pontifical of Sens (15th century), and *Les très riches heures* of the Duke of Berry.