Pont Gérard Dagly - promenade des artistes

The first named bridge on the 'Promenade des artises'.

Gérard Dagly , was born in Spa in 1660 as the son of Jacques Dagly, painter. In the 1680s he moved to Berlin and opened a successful furniture factory there in 1686. He also decorated harpsichords and tobacco boxes, reed handles and sword guards.

He invented methods of applying silver varnish, rather than gold leaf, to books and leather . He also researched the restoration of varnish on canvases. He was also responsible for the interior decoration of the court of Frederick I in 1687 and was appointed intendant of the king's ornaments in 1696. In 1713, Frederick William I of Prussia, known as the Sergeant King, succeeded his father and dismissed all artists and abolished one hundred of the one hundred and fifty court offices. Gérard Dagly closed his factory and died around 1715.

The 'promende des artistes' is a beautiful walk that runs along the 'Ruisseau de la Picherotte', a valley with fast- flowing water that has inspired several artists. Since 2014, 7 bridges over the water have been given the name of local artists. In order:

- Pont Gerard Dagly

- Pont Frans Van Genesen

-Pont Ivan Hugue

- Pont Daniel Boudouxhe

-Pont Ivan Dethier

- Pont J. Van Den Seylbergh

-Pont Gilbert Renson

Willem Vandenameele