{"id":21581,"date":"2026-02-03T15:41:45","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T13:41:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.viabelgica.nl\/romeinen-vanuit-een-kunstzinnige-blik\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T11:49:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T09:49:45","slug":"romeinen-vanuit-een-kunstzinnige-blik","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.viabelgica.nl\/en\/romeinen-vanuit-een-kunstzinnige-blik\/","title":{"rendered":"Romans through an artistic lens"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":{"categorie":42,"afbeelding":19491,"auteur":"Anja Neskens","fotografie":"Wil van der Laan","contentbuilder":[{"acf_fc_layout":"tekst","tekst":"Wil van der Laan is a renowned artist from Meerssen. His love for Roman heritage is inexhaustible, and this is reflected in many of his works. From bronze emperors to ordinary figures from the Roman past, mixed with a touch of inspiration from Rodin. Wil is one of the most enthusiastic artists you will meet. His passion for his work quite literally radiates from everything he does.\r\n\r\n "},{"acf_fc_layout":"foto_tekst","foto":19487,"tekst":"

Tell us a little more about yourself.<\/h3>\r\nAfter secondary school there was really only one option for me: drawing. I enjoyed languages, but subjects such as accounting and mathematics were beyond me. Drawing was where my strength lay. So that was the path I followed. For five years I studied diligently at the Municipal Academy of Applied Arts in Maastricht and, through the state examinations \u2013 that was how it worked in those days \u2013 I obtained my first-grade teaching qualification in drawing and art history.\r\n\r\nFor 41 years I had the privilege of inspiring more than 9,000 pupils with my passion for lines on paper and for art history.\r\n\r\nAlongside my job as a teacher you could usually find me in my home studio. I found the love of my life, who after 50 years still gives me the space to work in my studio day in, day out. That is what you call true love: giving each other the freedom to grow in your passion. I am therefore very grateful to her.\r\n\r\n "},{"acf_fc_layout":"tekst_foto","tekst":"

And what kind of works did you create in your studio?<\/h3>\r\nPainting and sculpting were my main activities. Thanks to my connections in the sports world, I created bronze sculptures with great conviction. At the same time, I painted one African subject after another. Until 9\/11 \u2013 after that, nobody wanted paintings with a link to \u2026 That was the moment when I turned towards European themes, such as Italy or my beloved Maastricht.\r\n\r\nThe three-metre-high angel in Maastricht gave me a real boost and helped attract new clients. It is a sculpture with typically Maastricht qualities: graceful, elegant, charming, seductive and refined. Various themes followed, such as paintings of the famous brown caf\u00e9s in Maastricht. I truly enjoy working on those.\r\n\r\nI always have an idea in mind: what shall we create next? At five o\u2019clock in the morning I am already up, with my head buzzing with plans.\r\n

Where do you get all that boundless energy from?<\/h3>\r\nWell, I still roll around in the grass with my grandchildren or hide on the roof while playing with them. In my mind I am still a small child, someone who fully enjoys life. A child takes on every challenge, and even at the age of 75 I still do the same.\r\n\r\nPhoto: Wil and Rosita","foto":19475},{"acf_fc_layout":"foto_tekst","foto":19447,"tekst":"

Where does your interest in Roman heritage come from?<\/h3>\r\nI developed most of my knowledge and skills by visiting a great many museums. The Mus\u00e9e Rodin stands head and shoulders above the rest. I never tire of it\u2026\r\n\r\nAnd Roman art is simply beautiful! The essence of what makes it beautiful lies in its realism. Greek art is more beautiful than reality itself, almost divine. The portrait heads in Roman art, on the other hand, are more realistic and natural. A face should reveal something about the person.\r\n\r\nIn marble the portraits are beautiful, but bronze allows you to make the faces even more expressive, with a nod to Rodin. That became my combination. Roman art is the spark that sets me in motion."},{"acf_fc_layout":"tekst_foto","tekst":"

What was your first project with a Roman theme?<\/h3>\r\nAndr\u00e9 Rieu, the world-famous violinist, is a good client of mine. During the coronavirus period he was at home and threw himself into his hobby: baking cakes. Once a year he also goes to Rome with his entire family. That was the starting point.\r\n\r\nHe made a cake decorated with the three colours of Italy in marzipan. Then he called me and said: \u201cWhat I\u2019m really missing is an emperor on my cake.\u201d Well, I sculpted one for him and later cast it in bronze. It became an anonymous emperor who secretly looks a bit like Caesar ;)\r\n\r\n ","foto":19603},{"acf_fc_layout":"foto_tekst","foto":19547,"tekst":"

And from there things continued?<\/h3>\r\nYes, the next inspiration came from the sculpture group of the Dutch Royal Family by the artist Arthur Spronken and from the Bronzi Dorati in the museum in Pergola. That was when the idea began to grow to create a group of sculptures that belong together.\r\n\r\nSpronken\u2019s royal family group is cast in bronze, with only Beatrix gilded in gold leaf. I found that fantastic. That was the moment when the idea really started to develop. I selected five Roman emperors \u2014 Nero, Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian, Trajan and Augustus \u2014 each of whom achieved something remarkable.\r\n\r\nThe exception is Julius Caesar, who was never actually an emperor. That is why he was given a different form and finished with gold leaf.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n "},{"acf_fc_layout":"foto_tekst","foto":19527,"tekst":"Wijnand Luttikholt, a Dutchman who runs a B&B in Pergola and is actively involved in the local cultural scene, made it possible for me to exhibit my sculpture group in the museum there. Through his contacts with politicians, the next step towards Rome was taken.\r\n\r\nThe sculptures travelled from Palazzo Chigi in Formello to an exhibition space near the Scala Sancta, where the Pope has his private prayer chapel. From there, the journey culminated in a major project at Palazzo Brancaccio in Rome.\r\n\r\nAn equally impressive presentation took place in the renewed Roman Museum in Xanten, where the sculptures shone in the museum\u2019s new wing.\r\n\r\nMy wish is to present my works in the Gallo-Roman Museum in Tongeren and\/or in the Roman Museum in Heerlen. And of course, to realise a bronze sculpture with a Roman theme in Maastricht."},{"acf_fc_layout":"tekst_foto","tekst":"

Are your sculptures unique, or can anyone purchase them? And how does that work?<\/h3>\r\nFor works that are not commissioned, I decide on the possibilities for sale myself. All bronze sculptures are produced in limited editions. Smaller or larger versions can also be made.\r\n\r\n ","foto":19507},{"acf_fc_layout":"foto_tekst","foto":19643,"tekst":"

The project on Raadhuisplein was a wonderful extra in 2026?<\/h3>\r\nIt was a fantastic project that began in 2024 during a Via Belgica bus trip through the Euregio. I became inspired and struck up a conversation with deputy Kuntzelaers. Roman heritage is truly embraced in South Limburg, and I wanted to contribute to that.\r\n\r\nIn 2025 my opportunity arrived. The municipality of Heerlen commissioned me to create a work for Raadhuisplein. This resulted in five figures, inspired by the rich past of the municipality of Heerlen: Lucius the potter and his beloved Amaka, a doctor, the soldier Flaccus and the politician Marcus Sattonius Iucundus.\r\n\r\nYou can find more information about these sculptures here.\r\n

Can the figurines also be purchased?<\/h3>\r\nFor that, I still need to consult with the municipality of Heerlen. A decision first has to be made on whether the sculptures may be cast again so they could be placed on your mantelpiece."},{"acf_fc_layout":"tekst","tekst":"Would you like to have a unique sculpture designed inspired by the Roman past, or purchase an existing one? Then click here to visit Wil\u2019s website<\/a> or give him a call at: +31 6 222 766 80."},{"acf_fc_layout":"slideshow","slideshow":[19643,19439,19443,19447,19483,19479,19475,19463,19459,19455,19487,19491,19499,19503,19507,19535,19531,19527,19523,19543,19547,19555,19559,19563,19567,19571,19575,19579,19587,19591,19595,19599,19603,19611,19615,19619,19627,19631]},{"acf_fc_layout":"video_embed","embedcode":"