Bruges’ Canal View, Grogenerei

Louis Reckelbus was born in Bruges on 26 March 1864, the son of a policeman who lived in the Sint Clarastraat. From an early age he demonstrated a natural talent for drawing and attended classes at the Bruges Academy under the guidance of Edmond Van Hove. Despite this formal training, Reckelbus remained largely self taught, developing a highly personal and sensitive artistic voice.

He soon established a reputation as a painter of Bruges city views, landscapes, floral still lifes and intimate interior scenes. The coastal regions held a particular fascination for him, and he also worked extensively in the Netherlands and in northern France, especially in Artois and Picardy. Over time, his growing renown led to his works entering numerous collections in Bruges, throughout Belgium and abroad. Reckelbus worked primarily in gouache and watercolour and participated in many exhibitions both at home and internationally, where he received multiple awards.

During the First World War, he lived in England, in the small Cornish town of St Ives, an experience that further enriched his artistic outlook.

In 1930, the Bruges city council appointed him curator of the city’s museums, a role he carried out without financial remuneration until his death, a testament to his dedication to the cultural life of his hometown.

Louis Reckelbus died on 18 September 1958. Today, six works by this distinguished Bruges artist are preserved in the city collection, and his former residence at Westmeers 86 once served as a museum, commemorating his enduring legacy.