The very embodiment of expressive realism in Belgian sculpture.

Julien Dillens was a distinguished Belgian sculptor, recognized for his contribution to the realist movement of the late 19th century. Born in Antwerp, he was the son of painter Henri Dillens and pursued his artistic education at the Brussels Academy of Fine Arts, studying painting from 1861 to 1867 and sculpture under Eugène Simonis from 1868 to 1873. Early in his career, he also collaborated with notable sculptors such as Carrier-Belleuse and Auguste Rodin.

Dillens made his debut at the Antwerp Salon in 1870 with Bust of a Child and went on to exhibit in numerous fairs in Ghent, Namur, and Brussels. His career gained momentum after winning first prizes in major competitions, including the Compagnie des Bronzes contest with Le Temps and the Royal Academy’s competition with L’Agriculture in 1875. In 1877, he co-founded the group L’Essor, which united artists committed to realism in all its forms—a defining trait of his style. That same year, Dillens was awarded the prestigious Prix de Rome, allowing him to travel extensively through France and Italy.

Throughout his prolific career, Julien Dillens contributed to many important public commissions, including decorative reliefs for the Laeken Palace, sculptures for the Museum of Ancient Art, the Ghent City Hall, the Town Hall of Saint-Gilles, and several fountains in Ixelles, such as Perseus and Andromache. His reputation extended beyond Belgium, with exhibitions and works featured in Berlin, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and Krefeld.

In 1898, Dillens was appointed professor at the Ixelles School of Art and later at the Brussels Academy, where he played a significant role in mentoring the next generation of artists. His work, marked by expressive realism and technical mastery, is today preserved in major institutions such as the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, continuing to inspire and captivate audiences across Europe.

Literature :

• MATTHIJS, G. Julien Dillens Sculpteur 1849-1904.Gembloux : J. Duculot, 1954. Pl. XXII.

• ENGELEN, C. MARX, M. La Sculpture en Belgique à partir de 1830. Louvain : Engelen – Marx, 2006. Tome III p. 1296- 1303.