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  American Club Brussels
An International club with an American heart


Keizerkapel

  • 03 Apr 2011
  • 3:00 PM
  • Keizerkapel Antwerp

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The Keizerkapel and the Case of
the Mysterious Missing Rubens’ Modello

The American Club of Brussels invites members and friends to visit the lovely 16th century Keizerkapel, a small church in the historic center of Antwerp, on Sunday, April 3.

Built in Brabant-Gothic style by the guild of cloth manufacturers between 1512 and 1514, the church is one of the most prominent historical monuments in the well-preserved Keizerstraat. The Keizerkapel, or Emperor Chapel, is filled with art treasures, fine ecclesiastical furniture, stained glass, and an important collection of liturgical silver. Of special note are the main altar with an impressive 1653 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Matthyssen Abraham, and an 18th century silver shrine which contains a relic of St.- Liborious, the fourth century Christian martyr said to help cure colic, fever, and gallstones. Also of interest is the crypt, which was only recently rediscovered, and which will eventually be used for funerary purposes.

Our guide will be Professor Jean-Pierre De Bruyn, a renowned art historian and curator of the chapel. Professor De Bruyn will also explain the historical and artistic significance of a previously unknown modello by Peter-Paul Rubens, which is on loan to the Keizerkapel for five weeks.

On April 22, 1611, Rubens submitted two modelli (or oil studies on oak panels) to the canons of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal in Antwerp to secure a commission to paint a new high altarpiece representing The Assumption of the Virgin. One of these small preparatory paintings (since transferred to canvas) now hangs in the Hermitage in St.-Petersburg, Russia. The second – believed lost for centuries – is the subject of Professor De Bruyn’s discussion during our Sunday afternoon visit.

He will explain how this particular modello came to be convincingly identified as Rubens’ preliminary sketch for The Assumption of the Virgin, who owns it, where it may have been all these years, and why it is now on display at the Keizerkapel.

Following Professor De Bruyn’s talk, we will be treated to a reception with cava, wines, soft drinks, and zakouskis. Limited space is available for this exclusive event.

Why not make a day of it in Antwerp? Kloosterstraat, which runs parallel to the Scheldt, is lined with antique and curiosity shops that are open on Sunday. Wander around and discover this vibrant part of town, enjoy lunch or a drink in one of the many cozy estaminets, visit the Rubenshuis to get in the mood, and top it all off with the visit to the Keizerkapel.

Event Details
Date: Sunday, April 3
Time:
3:00 p.m. Welcome and presentation by Prof. De Bruyn
3:45 p.m. Guided tour of the chapel 
4:00 p.m. Exhibition of the Rubens’ modello and a catered reception
Place: Keizerkapel, Keizerstraat 23, 2000 Antwerp
Price: €45 for ACB and AWCB members; €55 for non-members
Sign up: Reservations are due by noon on Monday, March 28 by email (info@americanclubbrussels.org), online at www.americanclubbrussels.org, or by telephone to the ACB Office Manager (02.219.58.08). Payment to ACB at 427-9195881-44 will confirm your reservation. Be sure to mention “Rubens” in the communications section of the virement. Note that cancellations are possible until noon on Monday, March 28. Participants canceling after this time, as well as no-shows, are charged the full cost of the event.

For security reasons, please register using your full name and those of your guests.

 

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