 Balat was the king's principal architect, and the building was one part of the king's vast construction projects for Belgium.The building was completed in 1887, and stands as an example of the Beaux-Arts architecture use of themed statuary to assert the identity and meaning of the building.The extensive program of architectural sculpture includes the four figures of "Music", "Architecture", "Sculpture", and "Painting" atop the four main piers, the work of sculptors , Joseph Geefs, Louis Samain, and Guillaume de Groot respectively.The finial, gilded "Genius of Art" was also designed by de Groot.