LIÈGE
Seven thousand years of art and history TEXT: LORENZA BACINO | PHOTOS: VILLE DE LIÈGE
Belgium’s magnificent Curtius Museum is a stunning building, situated in the historical heart of Liège. Visitors are invited to discover thousands of years of history through collections that were previously dispersed across town, but which are now tastefully displayed across 5,000 square metres. United under one roof are the former Museum of Arms, Museum of Glass, Museum of Archaeology and Decorative Arts, as well as the Museum dedicated to religious artworks and mosan art. The sheer volume of the pieces on display, plus a significant number of artefacts which remain hidden, make the Grand Curtius one of the most important art and history museums in the whole of the country.
weaponry of exceptional technical and artistic skill. Liège still harbours a formidable reputation in the field of arms production and since September 2018, the Arms Museum has occupied the first floor of the Palais Curtius, a majestic 16thcentury red-brick building in typical Liégeois style on the banks of the river Meuse. Housed within is one of the world’s greatest and most diverse collections of arms and weaponry. This space used to belong to the wealthy arms merchant, Jean Curtius (1551-1628), who made his fortune dealing in gunpowder.
Musée d’Armes (Museum of Arms)
These veritable works of art date from the 16th to the 21st century and are true testament to the skill and precision of the local artisans of Liège and beyond.
Originally opened in 1885, the Arms Museum has a strong connection to the history of Liège, which already boasted an international reputation for producing
The weapons on display are visually stunning and of interest to anyone with a passion for the history of humanity.
84 | Issue 66 | June 2019
Learn about the rich and multi-layered history of the evolution of guns and pistols, both from a technical as well as an aesthetic perspective. These objects perfectly highlight the skill and precision necessary to create such beauty. Admire the intricate detail of the metal engravings and the dexterity in the wooden and ivory carvings. The museum prides itself on focusing on three things: the historic, technical and aesthetic value of the items. This erstwhile tradition remains very much alive in Liège today and visitors will see examples of