Temple of Human Passions
Encyclopedia
The Temple of Human Passions , also known as Pavillon Horta-Lambeaux, is a neoclassical
pavilion
in the form of a Greek temple
that was built by Victor Horta
in 1896 in the Cinquantenaire Park
of Brussels
. Although classical in appearance, the building shows the first steps of the young Victor Horta towards Art Nouveau
. It was designed to serve as a permanent showcase for a large marble relief
"Human Passions" by Jef Lambeaux
. Since its completion the building has remained almost permanently closed.
, King Leopold II's favourite architect.
The small temple of classic look already announced the Art Nouveau
manner associated with the architect. Although loyal to the formal vocabulary of classical architecture, Horta already managed to incorporate all elements of the new style. At first sight, the building looks like a classic temple. However, there is not a single straight line in the building. Every classic detail is revisited and reinterpreted. Horta succeeded in designing an almost "organic" interpretation of the classical temple, without completely abolishing any reference to an historical style. Slightly bent like the foot of a tree, the walls seem to have sprung organically.
After World War I
Horta would return to this classicism in his designs for the Centre for Fine Arts and the Musée des Beaux-Arts
in Tournai
.
The building, though, has had a turbulent history. Horta was commissioned to erect a building around the Lambeaux relief, but collaboration between the architect and the artist soon led to an irreconcilable disagreement. At first, Horta designed the pavilion’s facade to be open, serving as a shelter on rainy days — without the wall and bronze doors behind the colonnade — so that the relief would always be visible for passers-by. But Lambeaux, against the will of Horta, wanted a gallery wall behind the columns. The dispute remain unsolved for years: on the day of the inauguration on 1 October 1899, the unfinished temple stood open with the relief visible from the surrounding park. Under pressure of the public opinion and the authorities Horta had to alter his plans and close the temple with a wooden barricade. It was left unfinished only three days after inauguration.
Lambeaux never knew the temple as it currently stands. Shortly after Lambeaux's death, Horta acceded to his wishes by building the wall that would permanently hide the bas-relief with a closed front to enhance the natural light coming through the glass roof.
In 1967, the building was given by King Baudouin to King Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz
of Saudi Arabia
, on an official visit to Belgium, together with the East Pavilion of the 1880 National Exhibition that would later become the Great Mosque of Brussels
. The government of Saudi Arabia
eventually gave it back to the Belgian government. The pavilion remained closed to the public except on occasional open days. Since 2002, the temple is open one hour per day, except on Mondays. In recent years this was not due to the prudishness of the public, but out of fear for vandalism.
The Horta pavilion houses the monumental achievement of the sculptor Jef Lambeaux
(1852–1908): the relief "Human Passions". The 12 by 8 m (39.4 by 26.2 ft) work was centered around the theme of the happiness and the sins of mankind dominated by death. It also depicted the "negative" passions of mankind such as war, rape and suicide.
The relief had been very controversial ever since the presentation of the project in 1886. Although enthusiastic at the beginning, art critics especially regret the lack of cohesion of the work. Despite the controversy, the Belgian State acquired the work in 1890 for installation in the Cinquantenaire
. Werner Adriaenssens is also inclined to deny the work mythical status:
On 1 October 1899, Horta's temple was officially inaugurated and the work revealed to the public. The unveiled way in which Lambeaux depicted the male and female nude was highly debated in the press. The relief depicting uninhibited nudes in any manner of carnal delights caused scandal. Nudity was not the only problem: the representation of the crucified Christ below Death outraged conservative Belgium. The open building was concealed from public view with a wooden barricade only three days after its first public presentation.
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
pavilion
Pavilion (structure)
In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
in the form of a Greek temple
Greek temple
Greek temples were structures built to house deity statues within Greek sanctuaries in Greek paganism. The temples themselves did usually not directly serve a cult purpose, since the sacrifices and rituals dedicated to the respective deity took place outside them...
that was built by Victor Horta
Victor Horta
Victor, Baron Horta was a Belgian architect and designer. John Julius Norwich described him as "undoubtedly the key European Art Nouveau architect." Indeed, Horta is one of the most important names in Art Nouveau architecture; the construction of his Hôtel Tassel in Brussels in 1892-3 means that...
in 1896 in the Cinquantenaire Park
Cinquantenaire
Parc du Cinquantenaire or Jubelpark is a large public, urban park in the easternmost part of the European Quarter in Brussels, Belgium....
of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. Although classical in appearance, the building shows the first steps of the young Victor Horta towards Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
. It was designed to serve as a permanent showcase for a large marble relief
Relief
Relief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane...
"Human Passions" by Jef Lambeaux
Jef Lambeaux
Jef Lambeaux was a Belgian sculptor born in Antwerp. He studied at the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts, and was a pupil of Jean Geefs. His first work, War, was exhibited in 1871, and was followed by a long series of humorous groups, including Children dancing, Say Good Morning, The Lucky Number and;...
. Since its completion the building has remained almost permanently closed.
History
In 1889 Victor Horta was commissioned to design a pavilion to house Jef Lambeaux's sculpture "The Human Passions" on the recommendation of his teacher Alphonse BalatAlphonse Balat
Alphonse Hubert François Balat was a Belgian architect.He studied at the Academie of Namur and obtained his degree in architecture from the Academy of Antwerp in 1838....
, King Leopold II's favourite architect.
The small temple of classic look already announced the Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
manner associated with the architect. Although loyal to the formal vocabulary of classical architecture, Horta already managed to incorporate all elements of the new style. At first sight, the building looks like a classic temple. However, there is not a single straight line in the building. Every classic detail is revisited and reinterpreted. Horta succeeded in designing an almost "organic" interpretation of the classical temple, without completely abolishing any reference to an historical style. Slightly bent like the foot of a tree, the walls seem to have sprung organically.
After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Horta would return to this classicism in his designs for the Centre for Fine Arts and the Musée des Beaux-Arts
Musée des Beaux-Arts Tournai
The Musée des Beaux-Arts in Tournai, Belgium, is an art museum.The inception of the museum was in the beginning of the 20th century when Henri Van Cutsem, a Belgian art collector, offered his collection to the city of Tournai in 1905...
in Tournai
Tournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
.
The building, though, has had a turbulent history. Horta was commissioned to erect a building around the Lambeaux relief, but collaboration between the architect and the artist soon led to an irreconcilable disagreement. At first, Horta designed the pavilion’s facade to be open, serving as a shelter on rainy days — without the wall and bronze doors behind the colonnade — so that the relief would always be visible for passers-by. But Lambeaux, against the will of Horta, wanted a gallery wall behind the columns. The dispute remain unsolved for years: on the day of the inauguration on 1 October 1899, the unfinished temple stood open with the relief visible from the surrounding park. Under pressure of the public opinion and the authorities Horta had to alter his plans and close the temple with a wooden barricade. It was left unfinished only three days after inauguration.
Lambeaux never knew the temple as it currently stands. Shortly after Lambeaux's death, Horta acceded to his wishes by building the wall that would permanently hide the bas-relief with a closed front to enhance the natural light coming through the glass roof.
In 1967, the building was given by King Baudouin to King Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz
Faisal of Saudi Arabia
Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud was King of Saudi Arabia from 1964 to 1975. As king, he is credited with rescuing the country's finances and implementing a policy of modernization and reform, while his main foreign policy themes were pan-Islamic Nationalism, anti-Communism, and pro-Palestinian...
of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, on an official visit to Belgium, together with the East Pavilion of the 1880 National Exhibition that would later become the Great Mosque of Brussels
Great Mosque of Brussels
The Great Mosque of Brussels is the oldest mosque in Brussels. It is located in the Cinquantenaire Park. It is also the seat of the Islamic and Cultural Centre of Belgium....
. The government of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
eventually gave it back to the Belgian government. The pavilion remained closed to the public except on occasional open days. Since 2002, the temple is open one hour per day, except on Mondays. In recent years this was not due to the prudishness of the public, but out of fear for vandalism.
The relief "Human Passions"
Jef Lambeaux
Jef Lambeaux was a Belgian sculptor born in Antwerp. He studied at the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts, and was a pupil of Jean Geefs. His first work, War, was exhibited in 1871, and was followed by a long series of humorous groups, including Children dancing, Say Good Morning, The Lucky Number and;...
(1852–1908): the relief "Human Passions". The 12 by 8 m (39.4 by 26.2 ft) work was centered around the theme of the happiness and the sins of mankind dominated by death. It also depicted the "negative" passions of mankind such as war, rape and suicide.
The relief had been very controversial ever since the presentation of the project in 1886. Although enthusiastic at the beginning, art critics especially regret the lack of cohesion of the work. Despite the controversy, the Belgian State acquired the work in 1890 for installation in the Cinquantenaire
Cinquantenaire
Parc du Cinquantenaire or Jubelpark is a large public, urban park in the easternmost part of the European Quarter in Brussels, Belgium....
. Werner Adriaenssens is also inclined to deny the work mythical status:
On 1 October 1899, Horta's temple was officially inaugurated and the work revealed to the public. The unveiled way in which Lambeaux depicted the male and female nude was highly debated in the press. The relief depicting uninhibited nudes in any manner of carnal delights caused scandal. Nudity was not the only problem: the representation of the crucified Christ below Death outraged conservative Belgium. The open building was concealed from public view with a wooden barricade only three days after its first public presentation.