ABSTRACT
In 1830, Belgium was officially founded as a country, independent from the Dutch reign. A year later, Leopold of Saksen-Coburg-Gotha was chosen by the National Congress as the official head of State. The attention on past and future artistic achievements was confirmed by the third and fourth segments of the decree, respectively dealing with the protection of existing monuments and national heritage, and the creation of new monuments honoring the nation's glorious past. When the early reports of the discussions in the Parliament about public commissions for sculptures are considered, the nationality of the chosen sculptor is rarely a point of discussion, nor is their presence or experience abroad. When the different academies at the beginning of the nineteenth century are analyzed, it becomes clear that the restrictions concerning nationality imposed by politicians were indeed applied in practice. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the academies had existed for many centuries, yet were barely organized.
