Frans van Ranst (1906-1987): "Young woman's bust"

Frans Van Ranst took courses at the academies of Dendermonde, where he had as his teacher the sculptor Alfred Courtens, and Ghent. He has received several awards for drawing, sculpture, wood and marble sculpture.

On November 30, 1940, he married Jeanne Honorine Julienne Georges (Namur, 1919-Spa, 2018) in Spa, where he spent the rest of his life. He was also charged with sculpture, ceramics and modelling courses at the école des Arts et Métiers.

Frans Van Ranst was especially recognised as an excellent portraitist. Frans Van Ranst executed medallions of many Spa personalities and even General de Gaulle and Pope John Paul II.

Already in 1933-34 - he was then 27 years old - his work was described as "a deep, pure sensitivity" and "a psychological acuity of the images". It was not linked to any artistic movement.

An affable man, this modest and probe artist had integrated perfectly into Spa's life and was for about forty years a prominent figure in the cultural and artistic life of his adopted city.

Some of his medals were purchased by the 'Cabinet des Médailles de Bruxelles', and works by Frans Van Ranst are at the Museum of Walloon Art in Liège, the Museum of the City of Water in Spa and in the public domain in Spa.