Franz Courtens



Baron Franciscus Eduardus Maria (Franz) Courtens (1854–1943) was a Belgian painter.

He was a leading figure in the Dendermonde School, famous for his paintings of nature and landscapes. An essay on him by Fernand Khnopff was published in The International Studio 34 (1908). Courtens was professor at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (NHISKA) in Antwerp from 1904 till 1924.

He was a personal friend of Leopold II, who gave him the privilege of free access to the royal Parc of Laeken. Some of his paintings remain in the Royal collection.

Family
Since 1922, the family belongs to the Belgian nobility.

Baron Franz Courtens: painter, member of Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium, 1904.
 * Baron Hermann Courtens, (1884-1956): painter
 * Baron Pierre Courtens, (1921-2004): artist
 * Jacques Courtens, (1926-1988): painter
 * Alfred Courtens, (1889-1967): sculptor
 * Antoine Courtens, (1899-1969): architect, studied with Baron Victor Horta,

 File:Dendermonde Town Hall Courtens Thaw.JPG|Thaw in Dendermonde (Le dégel à Termonde), 1879, oil on canvas, 166 × 231 cm File:Franz Courtens, around 1901, Herd in Kempen (Troupeau en Campine), oil on canvas, 80 x 60 cm.jpg|Herd in Kempen (Troupeau en Campine), oil on canvas, 80 x 60 cm File:Franz Courtens - De golf.JPG| The wave (La vague), ca. 1926, oil on canvas, 51 × 85 cm File:Franz Courtens, 1926, Lake of Bourget (Lac du Bourget), oil on canvas, 110 x 190 cm.jpg| Lake of Bourget (Lac du Bourget), 1926, oil on canvas, 110 x 190 cm File:Franz Courtens - Wachtend op hoogtij.JPG| Resting in the dune (Le repos dans la dune), last painting from the artist 1935, oil on canvas, 75 × 110 cm

Honours

 * 1922: created Baron Courtens by Royal order.
 * Grand Officer in the Order of the Crown.
 * Member of the Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium.