St. Charles Borromeo Church, Antwerp
| St Charles Borromeo church | |
|---|---|
Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk | |
 The Baroque front on the Hendrik Conscienceplein. | |
 | |
| Location | Antwerp |
| Country | Belgium |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Website | top |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Ignatius Loyola |
| Status | parish church (since 1803) |
| Founder(s) | Jacobus Tirinus |
| Dedication | St Charles Borromeo |
| Dedicated | 1779 (rededication) |
| Consecrated | 1625 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | protected monument (built heritage) |
| Designated | 1939 |
| Architect(s) | Pieter Huyssens, François d'Aguilon |
| Style | Baroque |
| Years built | 1615-1621 |
| Completed | 1626 |
| Closed | 1773 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 58 metres (190 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Antwerp |
The St.-Carolus Borromeuskerk is a church in Antwerp, located on Hendrik Conscience square. The church was formerly known for 39 ceiling pieces by Rubens that were lost in a fire when it was struck by lightning on 18 July 1718.
History
The church was inspired by the Church of the Gesu, the mother church of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Jesuits.[1] It was the first church in the world to be dedicated to the Jesuit founder, Ignatius Loyola.
Rubens ceiling paintings
In 1617-1618 Rubens painted two altarpieces, and during this time he was commissioned to paint the ceiling pieces, for which he made the designs and the execution was done mostly by pupils, including Anthony van Dyck.[2] A contract was drawn up in 1620 by Jacobus Tirinus and the paintings were delivered a year later in time for the consecration.[2] Rubens received 7,000 guilders for his works in the church, and though the lavish decorations including sculptures and other artwork were well received, Tirinus was dismissed in 1625 for going beyond his budget.[2]
18th century
After a fire in 1718, which destroyed Rubens' ceiling paintings, the church was rebuilt by Jan Pieter van Baurscheidt the Elder. In 1773 the Society of Jesus was suppressed and the building was confiscated. It reopened in 1779, renamed St.-Carolus Borromeuskerk, after Charles Borromeo.
19th century
Since 1803 the St.-Carolus Borromeuskerk has been in use as a parish church.[1] During the Dutch reign preceding Belgium's independence in 1830 the baroque interior was sobered to make it a Protestant church.
1980s restoration
A restoration campaign in the 1980s brought back the churches baroque splendor. Besides works by Rubens the interior displays paintings by Gerard Seghers, Daniel Seghers, and Cornelis Schut.[1]
20th century
On 30 August 2009 fire broke out again, but none of the important artworks were damaged.[3]
Gallery
-
Painting of the interior c. 1630 by Sebastian Vrancx -
Painting of the interior c. 1660 by Hieronymus Janssens and Wilhelm Schubert van Ehrenberg -
Book of engravings after the lost ceiling pieces by Johann Justin Preissler, 1735 -
Book of engravings after the lost ceiling pieces by Jan Punt after drawings by Jacob de Wit, 1751
References
- ^ a b c website Belgian heritage register
- ^ a b c Rubens: A Genius at Work : the Works of Peter Paul Rubens in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium reconsidered. by Joost Vander Auwera, Sabine van Sprang, Véronique Bücken, Arnout Balis, Nora De Poorter, Nico van Hout, Christine Van Mulders, Michèle Van Kalck and by members of the Rubens project team (Hélène Dubois, Natasja Peeters, Bert Schepers and Tine Meganck).
- ^ Lichtspots oorzaak van brand Carolus Borromeuskerk (Spotlights cause fire in Carolus Borromeuskerk), www.demorgen.be, September 20, 2009.