January 06, 2012

Bortier Gallery

The Galerie Bortier in the center of Brussels is a covered shopping arcade constructed in 1847 - 1848 by the architect J.P. Cluysenaer. Initially it was part of a larger complex including the Madeleine market,  which today no longer exists. The gallery remains a beautiful example of the simultaneous use of cast iron and glass.  The narrow passageway built on two levels has a mainly Neo-Rennaissance style.  The gallery's entrance is located at Rue de la Madeleine and its facade incorporates part of an old town house, the former Van Gend transport company. 
Today the gallery mostly houses bookshops and art galleries.
From a comment by Frans, a blogger and expert on cameras and photography (http://thecameracollector.skynetblogs.be/), I just learned that this gallery also houses the antiquarian shop of Tristan Schwilden, a renowned Belgian author on XIX Century photography. Schwilden is the co-author of "The First Daguerreian Studios in Brussels," a survey of the development of photography in Brussels, beginning with the opening of the first studios in 1842, and including biographical details of the photographers concerned. 

31 comments:

  1. So beautiful, Anni. It's great seeing Belgium through your eyes. I should posting pics of my town, although they wouldnt be nearly as compelling :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful indeed! I, too, love seeing Belgium through your eyes and it is always a delight! Happy weekend, Annie! Enjoy!

    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  3. Goeie morgen Anni,
    Die foto's doen mij een groot plezier! Tristan Schwilden heeft ook zijn antiquariaat winkel in deze galerij. Hij is een der bekendste auteurs in België inzake XIX eeuwse fotografie en de meeste daguerreotypes die ik bezit komen van bij hem.
    Nog een prettig weekend,
    Frans

    ReplyDelete
  4. elle me fait penser à celle de Nantes

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy New year Anni!
    Beautiful photos and very elegant place!

    ReplyDelete
  6. It is beautiful, I like those arcades very much.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 't Blijft zovéél jaren later zo mooi, Anni !
    Lie(f)s.

    ReplyDelete
  8. pour l'Angevine: le Passage Pommeraye à Nantes? Cette galerie-ci est plus petite mais charmante.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, beautiful building.

    Nice photographs.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am also from Belgium but have not seen this gallery yet. Isn't Brussels great.

    Greetings,
    Filip

    ReplyDelete
  11. Non so perché la capitale della tua nazione l'ho sempre vista come una città triste. Le tue foto mi stanno convincendo che dovrei fare una visita di almeno un fine settimana e, probabilmente, cambierei di opinione. Buonanotte.

    ReplyDelete
  12. beautiful. great lines in these shots.

    ReplyDelete
  13. sans doute une des plus petites galeries de Bruxelles, mais une très belle galerie ! et tes photos montrent bien l'ambiance qui y règne.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I would really enjoy shopping in that arcade :)) Diane

    ReplyDelete
  15. Yes, Judy, would be great to see pictures of your part of the world.

    Thank you Sylvia

    Frans, zeer nuttige info, ik heb mijn post aangepast en het toegevoegd, dankuwel !

    Angevine, la réponse par la pomme du verger plus loin.. Merci à la pomme.

    Thank you Magda

    Ja, Bieb, kom maar eens kijken, klein maar mooi.

    Vereeuwigd, Lies

    Thank you Loach of Chicago

    Filip, I am delighted to show you things about Brussels you had not yet discovered

    Elio, non e una città triste... dovrei venire per vedere tu stesso ! sarai sorpreso. Dimmi quando... :-)

    Jacques Robert et Olivier, grand merci!! Ca fait plaisir que vous appréciez mes photos.

    Diane, there are not all that many shopping possibilities left there apart from bookstores, but delightful area to walk around and simply enjoy the beauty.

    To all: know that I am always tremendously looking forward to your comments. I love hearing from you. Happy Sunday

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hallo Anni,
    Ik ben blij dat ik een beetje heb kunnen helpen!

    Er komen nog meer van deze oude foto's op mijn blog, maar eerst morgen even iets helemaal anders... een verrassinkje :-)

    Frans

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your blog makes me want to blah a trip to Belgium.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Un endroit que j'aime bien. Il faudra que je retourne à Bruxelles.

    ReplyDelete
  19. HEUREUX ANNEE 2012

    http://laracroft3.skynetblogs.be
    http://lunatic.skynetblogs.be

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm so glad that you happened to find my blog, and now I've found yours! This is really beautiful, and would be perfect for my new-ish meme, called Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors. You're welcome to come and participate!
    Nice to meet you!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Une jolie perspective !
    Cette galerie a l'air très chouette.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oooh, I've been here! It was very busy before Christmas. Such a lovely, elegant place.

    ReplyDelete
  23. en effet une belle place à Bruxelles. Puisque je ne suis pratiquement que le dimanche en ville, cela faisait longtemps que je ne pouvais entrer. Le mois dernier enfin et plutôt par hasard en rentrant par derrière sans savoir de suite où je me trouve :-)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Brussel telt heel veel mooie gallerijen velen kijken zlefs niet ik had het geluk een trouw te mogen doen in the city zelf grandioos gewoon gemeentehuis met alles erop en eraan prachtig
    ik herken de plekje hier :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Woah! I'm really enjoying the template/theme of this blog. It's sіmplе, уet effeсtive.
    A lot of timеs it's challenging to get that "perfect balance" between superb usability and visual appearance. I must say that you'vе done а supегb job with thіs.
    Additionally, the blog loаԁѕ very quiсκ for
    mе on Opеra. Exceptional Blog!

    Нeгe iѕ my web-ѕite :: resistance of A resistor

    ReplyDelete
  26. Very nice ρost. Ι juѕt ѕtumbleԁ
    upon уour blog аnd wiѕhed to say that I've really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I'll be subscribing tο your rss fеed and I hορе you write again soon!



    my web page: Www.080Job.Com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hey therе! Do yоu know if they mаke
    any plugіns to assiѕt ωith Ѕearch Enginе Optimizatiοn?
    Ι'm trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I'm not seeing νery
    good gains. If you knοw of anу pleаse ѕharе.
    Cheerѕ!

    Look аt my ωebpage ... resistor color code calculator

    ReplyDelete
  28. What's up colleagues, nice paragraph and good arguments commented at this place, I am really enjoying by these.

    My site; Resistor resistance

    ReplyDelete
  29. That is a reаlly good tip еspecially to thosе fresh to the blogosphere.
    Brіef but very pгecise information… Thanks for sharing thiѕ оne.
    A muѕt read article!

    Revieω my site: ohm's law

    ReplyDelete