Standbeeld van Augustin Daniel Belliard te Brussel

About this artwork

blad: hoogte 286 mm x breedte 216 mm

Art Historical Context

This etching by Irish-born artist Erin Corr captures the statue of Augustin Daniel Belliard, a prominent public monument in Brussels. Created in 1838, the print measures 286 by 216 millimeters and offers a detailed view of the sculpture honoring the French general and diplomat who played a role in the early years of independent Belgium. Corr, who spent much of his career in Brussels, specialized in reproductive prints that brought important civic monuments to a wider audience. Etching was a favored medium in the nineteenth century for its ability to render fine architectural and sculptural details with precision and clarity. Through delicate line work, Corr translates the three-dimensional form of the statue into a two-dimensional image, preserving both its likeness and its urban setting. Such prints served not only as artistic records but also as accessible souvenirs for visitors and locals alike. Today, this work invites reflection on how public sculpture and printmaking together shaped national memory in the decades following Belgian independence. The modest scale of the etching belies its role in circulating images of the city’s evolving identity.

About the Artist

Erin Corr · 1803–1862

Erin Corr (1803–1862) was an Irish engraver of exceptional skill and dedication, born in Brussels of Irish descent on an unknown date in 1803 and dying on August 10, 1862. His career exemplified the internationalism of 19th-century European art, as he trained in Belgium and France before establishing himself as a professor at the Antwerp Academy, where he influenced the next generation of engraver...