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Another look at Anthony Van Dyck (archives)

About documentation and paintings, portraits and copies in Antwerp Churches and Convents Exhibition 17 May - 30 September 1999 In 1999 Antwerp remembered the 400th year of the birth of Anthony Van Dyck, therefore the committee of Monumental Churches wished to accentuate the relation of the master with his own Antwerp cultural life. Therefore, pastoral tourism of Antwerp in association with Antwerp Open, the coordinator of the Van Dyck Year 1999, organised a modest but worthwhile exhibition about the many connections of Anthony Van Dyck with the churches and convents of his native city. When we speak about Anthony Van Dyck we usually think of his marvellous creations as a portrait painter of the English court. But, also his short stays in his native city, Antwerp, were always an opportunity for commissions of portraits of many important people. Not so well known are his contribution as a painter of religious art here. So, the relation of Van Dyck with the different various monumental churches of Antwerp is in fact greater than is usually known. First of all, in the ecclesiastical archives, it is possible to find some important biographical facts about the Master: from his baptism until his last will and testament. Was he not born in the shadow of the Cathedral? For various churches Van Dyck has completed one or more religious paintings, for instance the Carrying of the Cross in St. Paul's church or the famous St. Rosalia and the beatified Herman-Joseph for the Congregation of Mary of the Jesuits. Additionally, many portraits of his Iconography represent persons who were closely attached with the social, cultural, scientific and spiritual life around the Antwerp churches: Bishop Malderus, the Canons Aubertus Miraeus, Antoine de Tassis and Zeger van Hontsum, the organist Hendrik Liberti, the Jesuits Carolus Scribani, Jean-Charles della Faille de Leverghem and Jean-Baptiste de Bisthoven. So the master accentuated the dynamism of the Antwerp ecclesiastical life of that time for ever. Finally our attention is also drawn towards many replicas by, and copies after Van Dyck, as well as for portraits for epitaphs and religious paintings, particularly for the devotion to Our Lady. There is also a representative catalogue with coloured illustrations and scientific contributions by several art historians. Concept and Organisation Rudi Mannaerts, President of Pastoral Tourism in Antwerp Claire Baisier, Art Historian in co-operation with

The Church Council of Our Lady's Cathedral

Kerkfabriek St.-Andrieskerk

Kerkfabriek St.-Carolus Borromeuskerk

Kerkfabriek St.-Jakobskerk

Kerkfabriek St.-Pauluskerk

Sint-Andries 2000 vzw

Sint-Paulusvrienden vzw

Information If you have any queries regarding the exhibition, please contact by mail: Rudi Mannaerts Claire Baisier



Laatste wijziging op 2/2/2003 door Claire Baisier .