Major Art Discovery in Bruges: Musea Brugge Solves Century-Old Ingres Mystery
A significant art historical breakthrough has connected a masterpiece by the French painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres directly to the local heritage of Bruges. An anonymous portrait created by the French master in 1813 has finally been identified. The subject of the drawing is Joseph Ducq (1762–1829), a prominent neoclassical draftsman and painter from Bruges.
For decades, the identity of the gentleman in the portrait remained a subject of speculation among art historians. A previous attempt in 1980 incorrectly identified the sitter as a local politician, Charles-Bernardin-Ghislain Coppieters-Stochove. Recent research conducted by Dr. Thijs Dekeukeleire at Musea Brugge has corrected the record, proving that the drawing captures Ducq just before his return to his home city.
Exploring the European Connections of 19th-Century Bruges Painters
The discovery was made possible by examining a print stored in the Print Room of Musea Brugge. The print, created by Ducq’s student Adriaan Wulffaert around 1829, features a portrait of Ducq that matches the Ingres drawing with unmistakable precision. Comparing the two works side-by-side confirmed that Wulffaert’s lithograph was directly based on the original drawing by Ingres.
This finding is a major outcome of the ongoing 'Apprentice-Master II' research project, which maps the international careers of Bruges artists during the 19th century. Like many ambitious artists of his generation, Ducq studied at the Bruges Academy before traveling to Paris and Rome to refine his skills. During his time in Rome, he became part of a vibrant community of French and Flemish artists, where he established a close relationship with Ingres.
The portrait was likely a farewell gift to Ducq before he departed Italy to assume his role as director of the Bruges Academy. While Ingres frequently sketched portraits of friends and travelers during his Italian period, he rarely drew artists from the region that would become Belgium. This makes the portrait of Ducq a highly unusual and valuable piece within the French master's body of work, characterized by its delicate line drawing and subtle three-quarter profile. Today, the original drawing is held in a private collection in Toronto, Canada.
Discovering the Rich History of the Bruges Art Scene
The successful identification of Ducq underscores how deeply integrated local Bruges artists were with the wider European art world. This discovery highlights the ongoing historical work being conducted in the city. Future research of this kind will be supported by the new research centre BRON, located in the Bruges Museum Quarter alongside the upcoming BRUSK art gallery.
Whether you are seeking out quiet heritage locations like the historic Gezellehuis or tracing the paths of Flemish masters across the city's historic core, Musemap (musemap.art) helps you uncover the hidden stories behind every corner. To start planning your next journey, you can browse museums in the area or consult our interactive map to locate key cultural sites across Bruges.
