The archives of the father of Belgian Egyptology
The Jean Capart Fund was officially inaugurated in the presence of Princess Esmeralda of Belgium on Friday 1 December 2017. The fund was named after Jean François Désiré Capart, who was born in Brussels on 21 February 1877 and died on 16 June 1947 in Etterbeek. Set up as part of the King Baudouin Foundation by Jean Capart's descendants, this fund aims to preserve the rich scientific heritage of this founder of Egyptology in our country 70 years after his death. Indeed he left many archives behind him which are, however, not very well-known or promoted.
The Fund will be organised as part of the Royal Museums of Art and History. Indeed, this museum is home to the Association Égyptologique Reine Elisabeth, which Jean Capart founded in 1923 and which, for several dozen years, helped to enrich the Museums’ Library of the Antiquity department. Over the years, the Association has constituted an exceptional heritage of archives, the jewel of which is the rich correspondence between Jean Capart and his staff and successors. The letters contain many references to major names in the world of Egyptology and eminent figures from the 20 century, such as the famous Egyptologists Gaston Maspero and William Matthew Flinders Petrie. Eugène van Overloop, Chief Curator of the Cinquantenaire Museum (1898-1925), and Queen Elisabeth of Belgium also corresponded with Jean Capart. Furthermore, this outstanding collection also contains manuscripts, proofs of his books, excavation journals, reports, plans, photos and drawings.
For further information, consult the site: www.jeancapart.org
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