Antwerp, Churches and Tourism
Tourism Pastoral, Diocese of Antwerp (TOPA vzw)

Exhibitions - Archives

2009-2019 - RE.Ü.NION

From Quinten Metsijs to Peter Paul Rubens
Masterpieces from the Royal Museum back in the Cathedral

REUNION, a project of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) and the Antwerp Cathedral of Our Lady, was scheduled from June 5 to November 15, 2009. During that period, more than 175,000 Belgian and foreign visitors were counted, and their appreciation was great. Because as of 2011 the KMSKA would close for major renovations, this exhibition was finally extended until the end of October 2019.

Throughout that time, 8 altarpieces belonging to the KMSKA were mixed with 8 altarpieces from the Cathedral’s collection in the Cathedral of Our Lady, and installed “in situ” in such a way that the visitor, certainly from a distance, got the illusion that the numerous altars of guilds, craftsmen, city militias and brotherhoods were back home.

The choice of the exhibited works was based on a few criteria:

  • All the works were once at an altar in the cathedral.
  • All were once commissioned by members of civil society: guilds, crafts, city militias or brotherhoods.
  • All were made by artists registered in Antwerp.
  • The works from the KMSKA had to be able to withstand the move without problems.

The setting was chronological, not the chronology of the pieces themselves, but of their story. The centerpiece of the story is the Descent from the Cross of Christ, the masterpiece of Peter Paul Rubens. Starting from the northeast (back left) through the North aisle and both transepts, the first section goes over a series of events that take place before the death of Christ. Then returning through the south aisle it goes over events from after his death.

If not otherwise mentioned, the images are in public domain and come from Wilipedia Commons.

Adoration by the Shepherds (1568)
Frans Floris de Vriendt (Antwerpen 1519/20 – 1570)
Corporation of the Gardeners
KMSKA   Renaissance (mannerism)
image artinflanders

Adoration by the Magi (1615/20)
Artus Wolffort (Antwerpen 1581 – 1641)
Corporation of the Tailors
KMSKA   Baroque

Christ on the Straw (1618)
Peter Paul Rubens (Siegen 1577 – Antwerpen 1640)
Epitaph for Jan Michielsen & Maria Maes
KMSKA   Baroque

 

The Fall of the Angels (1554)
Frans Floris de Vriendt (Antwerpen 1519/20 – 1570)
Fencing Guild
KMSKA   Renaissance

John preaching in the Wood (ca. 1622)
Hendrik van Balen (Antwerpen 1575 – 1632)
Corporation of the Cabinet Makers
KMSKA/OLV         Baroque
Dominique Provoost, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, artinflanders

Saint Luke painting the Madonna (1602)
Maerten de Vos (Antwerpen 1532 – 1603)
Saint Luke Guild
KMSKA   Renaissance

The Wonderful Fisching (ca. 1560)
Hans van Elburcht (Elburg ca. 1500 – Antwerpen 1571)
Corporation of the Fish Handlers
OLV        Renaissance

Jesus among the Scribes (1587)
Frans I Francken (herentals 1542 – Antwerpen 1616)
Schoolmaster’s Guild and Corporation of the Soap Makers
OLV        Mannerism

The Last Supper (1592)
Otto van Veen (Leiden 1556 – Brussel 1629)
Fraternity of the Blessed Sacrament
OLV        Mannerism

The Wedding at Cana (1597)
Maerten de Vos (Antwerpen 1532 – 1603)
Corporation of the Wine Taverners
OLV        Renaissance

The Descent from yje Cross (na 1610)
Adam van Noort (Antwerpen 1561/62 – 1641)
Fraternity of the Blessed Sacrament
OLV        Baroque
Dominique Provoost, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, artinflanders

The Descent from the Cross (1611/14)
Peter Paul Rubens (Siegen 1577 – Antwerpen 1640)
Arquebusiers Guild
OLV        Baroque

The Descent of the Holy Spirit (na 1600)
Atelier Francken
Commissioner unknown
OLV – Renaissance
Dominique Provoost, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, artinflanders

The Déploration of Christ (1509/11)
Quinten Metsijs (Leuven ca. 1466 – Antwerpen 1530)
Corporation of the Cabinet Makers
KMSKA   Renaissance

Preaching of Saint Eloy of Noyon (1588)
Ambrosius I Francken (Herentals 1544/45 – Antwerpen 1618)
Corporation of the Smith
KMSKA – Renaissance

Last Ordeal, Works of Mercy (1517/25)
Barend van Orley (Brussel 1487/91 – 1541)
Almoners of the Poor’s Table
KMSKA – Renaissance

Some time later an additional altar piece was added

Multiplication of Bread (ca 1598)
Ambrosius I Francken (Herentals 1544/45 – Antwerpen 1618)
Baker’s corporation
KMSKA – Renaissance

At the end of 2021, beginning of 2022, the works present in the cathedral will be thematically rearranged.