The Collections of the Wittert Museum

 Although the origins of the collections date back to the founding of the University in 1817, the major contribution came in 1903 with the bequest of Baron Adrien Wittert. Subsequently, other donations have contributed to the diversification and enrichment of this heritage.

Today, the museum holds over 65,000 works of various kinds (prints, drawings, paintings, sculptures, photographs, numismatics, African objects, etc.). The graphic art collection, which is the result of the Wittert bequest, forms the core of the collections: Schongauer, Dürer, Cranach, Bruegel, Rembrandt and Rops are all renowned artists whose works are represented in the museum. To these can be added Ensor, Rassenfosse and Privat-Livemont, whose works were acquired later.

Collections at the Centre of Research

Because of their diversity and richness, the collections attract the interest of many researchers both locally and internationally. They are used within the University itself by teachers and students in the context of courses, various assignments, or for dissertations or doctoral theses. The museum is a real "laboratory" for art history and archaeology students and also collaborates with the Saint-Luc Liège Art School.

Officially launched at the beginning of 2020, the “Wittert Project” is an ambitious research project directed by Professor Dominique Allart (Department of Art History of Modern Times). Its objective is to initiate a global plan for the scientific study and valorisation of early graphic works from the Wittert collection (drawings and engravings from the 15th and 16th centuries). A first exhibition was organised at the end of 2019 (Renaissances contrastées. Pierre Bruegel, Lambert Lombard and Lambert Suavius), while a new exhibition (Around Raphael. Prints from the Wittert Museum at the Grand Curtius) will be presented from 16th October, as part of the framework agreement established between the University and the City. A scientific catalogue of the selected pieces will be published for the occasion (Pr. Dominique Allart and Dr. Antonio Geremicca).

Valuation Based on Openness

Although the museum's exhibition policy is essentially aimed at promoting its collections, its openness to the academic and cultural worlds is essential. The museum is thus a place for exchanges and meetings that promote and stimulate research. Whether for temporary exhibitions or for the Archidoc project, it is a lively place, open to all.

In order to allow everyone to explore the collections, it is essential to put the inventory online. This digitisation work and the creation of the scientific inventory are ongoing.

Finally, the loans of works for temporary exhibitions in Belgium and abroad also contribute to the influence of the Museum's collections.

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