Search

The article retraces the influence of the wooden reliquary dedicated to the Christian saint sainte Ursule entitled "Châsse de sainte Ursule" which contains paintings by 15th century German painter Hans Memling and is conserved at the Hôpital Saint-Jean in Bruges, Belgium. Focus is given to its reputation outside of Bruges from 1604 to 1847 and the role of Belgian painter and poet Carel Van Mander and Belgian sculptor Guillaume Geefs. Mander's mention of the reliquary in his work "Schilder-Boeck" published in 1604, the reproduction of the reliquary's paintings starting in the 19th century, and the sepulchral monument, or cenotaph, entitled "Cénotaphe de saint Hubert" created by Geefs and commissioned by Léopold I, King of the Belgians, in 1844 are discussed.