Belfius bank considering selling arts collection

Belgian bank Belfius is considering parting with its highly regarded arts collection, report  Het Belang van Limburg and De Gazet van Antwerpen. Last November, as news emerged of the loss of 920 jobs, , a spokesman for the bank said that there would be “no taboos” regarding ways in which to raise money. The collection boasts 4,500 works of art ranging from the 16th century to the present day, making it the largest private collection in Belgium. Among the artists featured are Flemish masters such as Rubens and Bruegel but also modern-era artists, including Magritte, Delvaux and Ensor and even contemporaries, like Pierre Alechinsky and Jan Fabre. Although Belfius hasn’t put a price tag on its collection, Belgian art historian Jan Hoet believes its total worth could top €200m.