BELGIAN PAINTER of the 19th century Album AMICORUM including 52 pages (49 drawings, two engravings and a photo) Various techniques: black pencil, watercolor, oil on paper, gouache. The cover of the album bears a black monogram on red leather "JD". All the drawings are glued in full and have been arranged alphabetically by artist. Size of the album: 50 x 34 cm Our album gathers a large part of the artists having adhered to the artistic circle "l'Essor" created in 1876. This album was offered to Julien Dillens by his artist friends, grateful for his talent. This group of artist friends, composed of former students and pupils of the Brussels Academies of Fine Arts, had as its motto "A unique art, a unique life", whose founders were perceived as "progressive". The group wished to use its own exhibitions to defend artistic innovations that were rejected by the Academy and the juries of the official salons. The circle was dissolved in 1891 but spawned other circles such as the "Group of XX", the Sillon, the Effort, the Labeur, and many others. Our album reflects as much by these landscapes, as by these portraits (of varied invoices) a true naturalist atmosphere opening the way to symbolism. - Commentary: Page 1 Handwritten letter from Eugène van Gelder, dated "15 October 1886", addressed to Monsieur Julien Dillens (sculptor, Antwerp 1849-1904, Prix de Rome in 1877), congratulating him on his new distinctions as an official sculptor, by the Antwerp jury "we have put together these few album leaves which we are offering you". Monogrammed E.V. Page 2 Amédée LYNEN (Saint-Josse-ten-Noode 1852 - 1938) Ex-Libris in homage to Julien Dillens: the Essor Black pencil. Annotated: "In memory of two great successes / Amsterdam 1883 / Antwerp 1885". Signed and dated lower right "1882". 22 x 14.5 cm Page 3 Eugène Van GELDER (Antwerp 1856- ?) Portrait of Julien Dillens Black stone and stump. Dedicated lower left in pen and blue ink "To Julien Dillens, his devoted Vangelder 1885". 28 x 21,3 cm Page 4 BELGIAN ECOLE of the 19th century View of an alley Engraving. Signed in a not very distinct way Albert ? Page 5 Hubert BELLIS (Brussels 1831 - 1902) Branch of cherry tree with its fruits Oil on paper. Double signed " H.Bellis/J.Dillens ". 21 x13 cm Page 6 Adolphe CRESPIN (Brussels 1859 - 1944) Full length portrait of a woman Black pencil. 21,5 x 13 cm Page 7 Ernest de BIEVRE (1867 - ?) Elegant woman in town Black pencil. Signed lower left 16,6 x 12,3 cm Page 8 Fernand DELGOUFRE (1848-1900) Landscape with a tower and a bell tower Black stone and scratch on card prepared in grey. 16 x 13 cm Page 9 C.DEMOS (active in the 19th century) Study of a female nude in full length, turned to the left Black pencil on grey paper. Signed and annotated " Sketch for Dillens ". 22,2 x 14 cm Page 10 Ernest DEVLEESCHOUWER (active in the 19th century) Young girl with a doll Black pencil and eraser. Signed lower right. 31 x 19 cm Page 11 Adrien De WITTE (Liege 1850-1935) Woman by the fireplace Engraving Signed lower left "1879 Page 12 Joseph DIERICKX (Brussels 1865 - 1949) Man in foot Pen and black ink on black pencil lines. Signed and dated "1885" at the bottom right 30 x 18 cm Page 13 Omer DIERICKX (Brussels 1862 -1939) Man reading under a lamp Black stone and white chalk highlights on grey paper. Signed, dated and dedicated lower right "To the friend Dillens /85 36,5 x 24,5 cm Page 14 Albert DILLENS (Antwerp 1844- ?) Marine Watercolour. Signed lower right. 19 x 32,5 cm Page 15 Photo of the sculptor Julien Dillens signed indistinctly on the mount "Alexandre". Page 16 Edouard DUYCK (Brussels 1856 - 1897) Woman at work Black pencil. Signed and dated in the upper right corner "83". 23 x 15 cm Page 17 Henri EVRARD (1850 - 1887) Carpenter at work Black pencil. Signed and dated lower left "1883 33 x 21,5 cm Page 18 J.FRANCOIS (active in the 19th century) Undergrowth Charcoal, shading. Signed and dated lower left "85". 32 x 19,7 cm Page 19 Lucien FRANK (Brussels 1857 - Ohain 1920) Stroller in an undergrowth Black pencil and white chalk highlights on grey paper. Signed lower left. 14,5 x 21 cm Page 20 BELGIAN ECOLE of the 19th century Young girl sewing Black pencil on yellow ochre paper. Signed and dated in b