Les cent cinquante ans de la Classe des Beaux-Arts

The President of the Académie thanks their Majesties the King and the Queen for their presence today. He reminds those present that the King is the Protector of the Académie. The anniversary which we are celebrating today is not that of the creation of this venerable institution, but that of its reorganization, when the Fine Arts class was added to those of Science and of Literature. The balance sheet of 150 years of activity by the class whose anniversary we are celebrating is an attractive one. Its members have included Adolphe Quételet, the Leonardo da Vinci of the Jeune Belgique movement, James Ensor and Paul Delvaux, to mention just three. It has published abundantly, including the catalogues of two memorable exhibitions. It is benefited from the gifts of a host of benefactors. It has awarded a quantity of prizes and subsidies. The whole Académie is very concerned to preserve its independence vis-à-vis the powers which command this world. In all circumstances it upholds intelligence, sensitivity and creativity, the cult of Truth, Beauty and Goodness. Its vocation is to reward merit. It is resolutely elitist, but in no ways haughty. It is not afraid to descend into the arena. The palace in which it lives is a large house of noble appearance, but it is no ivory tower, no fortress. Symbolically it bears comparison with a lighthouse.