Meet the 19th-Century 'Beau Monde' at Louis Van Engelen's Café Belvedere

S ituated on the left bank of the river Scheldt, any weekend visitor to the Flemish city of Antwerp in the mid-19th century might have found themselves drawn to the charm of the Café Belvedere, a spot with views right across the city. The Café proved to be a central meeting point for the city’s beau monde and inspired Louis Van Engelen to paint this lively panoramic scene, dated 1887, depicting some of the leading cultural figures of contemporary Antwerp. Discover who’s who below.