ALBERT DESENFANS

(Genappe, 1845-1938, Braine l’Alleud)

ALBERT DESENFANS

(Genappe, 1845-1938, Braine l’Alleud)

A discreet master of monumental form.

Albert Constant Desenfans was a distinguished Belgian sculptor whose refined technique and expressive vision earned him a prominent place in the artistic landscape of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Genappe in 1845, he studied at the prestigious Brussels Academy under the guidance of renowned masters Louis Jehotte, Eugène Simonis and Egide Mélot. Their mentorship laid the foundations for a prolific and independent career.

From 1866 onwards, Desenfans exhibited regularly at major Belgian and international salons. His work encompassed religious, allegorical, and mythological themes—many inspired by the designs of Xavier Mellery. In addition to portraiture, Desenfans received important commissions for large public buildings, including sculptures for the City Hall, the King’s House (Broodhuis), the Palace of Justice in Brussels, and the House of the Province of Liège.

Alongside Thomas Vinçotte and Jef Lambeaux, he contributed to the creation of the artworks that adorn the Arcades of the Cinquantenaire in the park of the same name in Brussels, notably the bronze statues Le Hainaut (1905) and Le Limbourg (1905), both sculpted by Albert Desenfans. Among his major works is The Resurrection (1891), a remarkable sculpture housed in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp.

In his smaller works, executed in marble, stone, plaster, and ivory, Desenfans achieved a rare degree of verisimilitude. His commitment to realism, paired with a strong sense of style and anatomical precision, became a hallmark of his artistic identity.

One of his most celebrated public sculptures remains the bronze monument to General Chazal, depicted in solemn grandeur with a watchful lion at his feet—a striking embodiment of authority and vigilance.

Literature :

  • ENGELEN, C. MARX, M. La Sculpture en Belgique à partir de 1830,Tome II. Engelen – Marx, Louvain, 2006. p. 1118-1122.

  • BENEZIT, E. Dictionnaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs. Paris: Librairie Gründ, 1961. Vol.4. p. 481.