What if ? (Anthony Van Dyck/Cornelis Schut)
⇐ The Cathedral of Our Lady seen from the Groenplaats
We return to the present day – and for once ask:
‘What if?’
Anthony van Dyck, the portrait painter, just leaves a single trace in this cathedral, in the sacristy. In between the Antwerp bishops is sitting Joannes Malderus or Jan van Malderen (+ 1633). However, this painting is a mere copy, among others. The original is in the KMSKA collection and currently on display in SnijdersRockox House.
https://kmska.be/en/masterpiece/joannes-malderus-bishop-antwerp
That would be the end of our tour; except that at this point we ‘d like to ask the question:
“What if?”
First the facts: around the turn of the year 1640-1641, Van Dyck was in Antwerp, a stop-over between Paris and London. He received a commission from the guild of the Young Longbowmen for their altar in this Cathedral. He was asked to paint a ‘Martyrdom of Saint George‘. The proposed fee of 2000 guilders is the kind of sum you get at the peak of your career. There are at least two preparatory oil sketches, but then Anthony has only been in Antwerp in passing by – and died at the end of 1641.
Eventually, it was Cornelis Schut who made the painting, now in the KMSKA; it’s a monumental work, with dark dramatic colours from top to bottom.
https://kmska.be/en/masterpiece/beheading-saint-george
And now: What If? The altar in question is said to have been located in the north transept. Can you imagine a Van Dyck hanging there, instead of the ‘Raising of the Cross‘? What a beautiful balance between master and gifted student, who was a master himself!
On leaving the Cathedral, we suggest you listen to the contemporary composition by Arvo Pärt (2001) on the Latin text of Simeon’s Hymn ‘Nunc dimittis’:
Source: ‘nunc dimitis’ by arvo pärt live at flagey | arvo pärt weekend (7:00 min) (28 Jan. 2018)
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir live at Flagey
We wish you a lot of LIGHT in all circumstances of life, including inner enlightenment.
React to our walking program with comments, appreciation or improvements: .
