![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1" height="6213px" width="4390px"></svg>)
Wim Delvoye and the Other Mona Lisa
Wim Delvoye, a major figure in the Belgian art scene, talks to us today about his relationship with Old Master Paintings and a beautiful 17th century copy of the Mona Lisa from his private collection.
Sotheby's: What is it about this painting that makes it stand out for you?
William Delvoye: It is a very powerful image. Whenever I look at it, I have a real aesthetic shock and I feel like I'm facing the painting in the Louvre.
It is a very high-quality copy with extreme fineness. Its freshness is so striking that you never get tired of watching it, I could contemplate it for hours.
S: Tell us more about your love of Old Master paintings, what distinguishes them from more modern art?
WD: Nowadays art is above all a matter of "fashion & branding". For me, ancient art is art with a capital A. Many Old Master paintings are beautiful and so much cheaper than works of Post-War artists… I used to paint too, so I have a quite technical approach when I look at a painting. It is very difficult to produce a work like this one, it shows a lot of skill and an incredible know-how. Therefore, I am always in awe of gorgeous Old Master paintings.
S: Do you consider yourself an art collector? If so, how do you go about choosing and acquiring art?
WD: I am more like a good “chineur” rather than a real collector. I do not prefer a specific movement or a defined period, I buy what I like. I have no predetermined direction. I buy paintings as well as old books, coins and archeological objects. I do not consider myself as a buyer of a work of art, but as a converter, turning printed banknotes into real value.
S: What is it about Renaissance-era artists that attracts you to their work?
WD: I have a predilection for the Italian Renaissance and for those artists who were brilliantly successful in many different fields. Da Vinci is certainly one of my favorite artists. He had very divergent interests and knew how to do everything: he was a painter, a sculptor, an architect, a civil and military engineer and a scientist. I also admire Michelangelo, Bernini and Canova who have always been references for me and my work.
S: Is the reconstruction of the Notre-Dame de Paris still a project of yours?
WD: Yes, absolutely, I am very motivated and eagerly look forward to the competition. For over 20 years I made works inspired by Gothic art and I have already thought a lot about the project. Today, there are two rather clear trends on the subject: one that aims for an identical reconstruction and one that leans towards a resolutely contemporary concept. I think I will find a perfect balance between those two.
