This museum is dedicated to the life and works of Constantin Meunier, a Belgian painter and sculptor who worked and lived in Brussels. In addition to producing art, he was also taught at the Louvian Academy of Fine Arts. He was also a cofounder of the Société Libre des Beaux-Arts (Free Society of Fine Arts) of Brussels. This organization was formed to promote artistic freedom and to advance Realist paintings. The museum, the site of his home and studio, was acquired by government is 1936 and was opened to the public shortly after that. The museum features over 150 works and documents pertaining to Meunier, with a specific focus on the last 30 years of his life. This portion of his life is often described as the second phase of his artistic career, where he focused on the social and industrial situation in Belgium. He desired to bring attention to the growing social problems in Belgium in the early 1900s, including the plight of the common worker. The museum, which is part of the Belgian Royal Museum of Fine Arts, is open Tuesday through Friday, excluding holidays. Weekend appointments may be arranged for groups.

The Horta Museum focuses on the works and life of the Belgian architect Victor Horta, who is often described as the father of Art Nouveau architecture and design. This style originated in the early 1900s and remained popular und the 1950s. Horta mentored several designer and architects who also went on to produce fine work in the Art Nouveau style. The building which houses the museum, the former Horta house and atelier, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This list recognizes places that are of special physical or cultural significance. The museum is made up of two buildings: the home and the studio. The interior of the museum boasts Art Nouveau finishes and there is a permanent display of art objects, utensils and furniture designed by Horta and his colleagues. The museum also includes documents and ephemeral associated with Horta’s life. The basement displays miniature models of numerous buildings that Horta designed during his career. These provide an opportunity for the visitor to compare and contrast different buildings under his design. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum hosts temporary exhibits related to Horta and his art. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday with the exception of public holidays. There is also a gift shop on site.

The Camille Lemonnier Museum is dedicated to the Brussels-born naturalist, poet, art critic, and journalist. He was a leading figure of the Belgian artistic and literary world during his time. Often referred to as the “Marshall of Letters” and “the Belgian Zola”, he produced extensive amounts of work during his lifetime and his best known novel is Un Mâle. He was also an avid art collector. Lemonnier led a colorful life and that energy was infused in his works, sometimes resulting in controversy. He was prosecuted in Paris in 1888 for his story Gil Blas, which was found to offend against public morals. The museum, which was a product of friends of the artist, displays a number of written and painted works. Visitors can see paintings by Claus, Heymans, Baron and Wystman, as well as sculptures by Rodin, Vanderstappen and Lambeaux. The library portion of the museums contains bound works of Boisdenghein and La Buyere. Visitors also get a glimpse into Lemonnier’s private world via a recreation of the interior of his former workshop. The museum is open Monday and Thursdays and admission is free. It typically closes during the summer months of July and August.

The Antoine Wierzt Museum, part of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, is dedicated to the works of the Belgium sculptor and painter, Antoine Joseph Wiertz. The artist studied in Antwerp and then in Italy after he won the Prix de Rome in 1832. That award allowed him to spend three years in residence in Rome. Wierzt is credited with developing a new style in oil painting. He did not like the shiny effect that oil painting left, so he developed a style called mat painting, which uses mixed colors, turpentine and other additives. His 1853 piece, “The Homeric Struggle” was the first large-scale piece to use this technique. Unfortunately, this technique resulted in a slow decay of his work, due to the additives to the paint. He moved to Brussels in the later years of his life, partially motivated by the death of his mother. When he came to Brussels, the local government gave him a workshop and studio space, which is the museum that you see today. Since Wiertz often created large-scale pieces of art, the workshop was also large in size. Wiertz’s artistic works actually garner mixed reviews and the museum typically has low attendance.

The Cauchie house dates back to 1905 and provides another fine example of Art Nouveau architecture in Brussels. The house is names after its builder, Paul Cauchie, a Belgian artist, painter and decorative artist. It is widely known for its unique allegorical sgraffiti on the building façade. Sgraffito, which is a derivative of the Italian word sgraffiare (to scratch), is a wall décor technique that is produced by layering tinted plaster in contrasting colors and them removing portions of the top layer to review the layer below. The design on the main façade of the building was actually designed by the artist to promote his own work in sgraffiti and his wife’s work as an art teacher. The inscription on the building “Par Nous – Pour Nous” (By Us – For Us), further shows the role of the house as a promotional piece. The house appears narrow compared to those next to it and is only 6 meters (20 feet) wide. In 1979, there was interest in using the house as a museum dedicated to Tintin, a popular comic book character created by Belgian artist Georges Rémi. Unfortunately, this idea did not get enough traction. Today the house has been divided into different uses. The upper two floors have been converted to apartments. The basement and cellars, which once contained Caucherie’s workshop, have been converted into a gallery and exhibits space. The first floor, which had been subject to renovations, has been restored back to the original appearance from Caucherie’s time.