74 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
MONUMENTS AND PARKS OF BRUSSELS. 
Like all old continental cities, Brussels is rich 
with records of its greatness, carved in stone or 
bronze. In the vicissitudes of the Middle Ages’ 
strifes, many of these monuments have disappeared, 
leaving only written documents of their former ex- 
istence; but enough treasures of the sculptural arts 
still exist in the public thoroughfares to make the 
capital of Belgium one of the most interesting 
places of Europe, either to the artist or the profes- 
sional man. 
It was founded some time in the Vllth century, 
but all traces of its monumental art are lost until 
represents Adam and Eve driven from Paradise, 
and is due to the chisel of H. Verbruggen of Ant- 
werp, who executed it in 1669 for the Jesuits of 
Lourain. It was given to St. Gudule church by 
Marie Therese in 1776. 
Leaving the chronological order of description 
of Brussels’ monuments, the principal one is per- 
haps the Column of Congress, begun in 1850 and 
unveiled in 1859 by Leopold 1st; its architect was 
Mr. Poelcert. This monument was erected in mem- 
ory of the Revolution of 1830, consecrated by the 
constitution enacted by the national congress. This 
elegant column, of Doric style, is built of German 
PETIT SABLON SQUARE, BRUSSELS. 
Wiih Groups of the Counts Egmont and Horn, and Statues in White Marble around it. 
the XII Ith century; in the church of the Sablon 
there is still a porch and an absis of the original 
church erected in 1288 by the Duke Jean I. In 
the next century, the prestige of the Communal 
Institutions of Brussels had become so great that it 
was decided to give them a temple surpassing in 
boldness and magnificence anything that Gothic art 
had created until then. Begun in 1401, the “Hotel 
de Ville,” or City Hall, was only completed at the 
close of the century. 
About contemporary with the City Hall is the 
famous Cathedral of Sainte Gudule. It is not our 
purpose to describe here in detail the edifices of the 
city, nor even the sculptural treasures which they 
contain, but this article would be incomplete if the 
pulpit was not mentioned. This pulpit, carved in 
oak, is not altogether in keeping with the general 
style of the cathedral, but its extraordinary riches 
of detail make it a masterpiece of the kind. It 
yellow and Belgian blue stones. Its total height 
is 185 feet. At the four corners of the pedestal are 
four figures representing the fundamental liberties 
granted by the constitution: 
The Liberty of Religion, by the sculptor Simo- 
nis; The Liberty of Association, by the sculptor 
Fraikin; The Liberty ol Teaching, by the sculptor 
Joseph Geefs; The Liberty of the Press, by the same. 
On the white marble tablets is engraved the text 
of the principal articles of the constitution and the 
names of the 237 members of the congress. Above 
the pedestal is the Genius of Belgium and the Arms 
of the Nine Provinces, due also to Mr. Simonis, 
with ornamentation of Louis Melot. The capitol, 
crowned by a gilt brass balustrade, supports the 
bronze statue of Leopold I, by Guillaume Geefs. 
On the Royal street side, two lions of colossal di- 
mension, watch the entrance to the monument and 
are also the work of Simonis. 
