Flemish Masters in situ

Feel the heartbeat of history

Van Eyck. Rubens. The Flemish surrealists and expressionists. In Flanders, old and modern Masters are at home. It is here where they lived and worked. Where they found their inspiration. And it is here where you can still see many of their works - sometimes even in unique places.

Flemish Masters in situ

The Flemish Masters often created their works for a specific location: a church, a monastery, a town hall, a castle, etc. Many of those pieces have since moved to museums, but some can still be viewed at their original location. A unique experience. You stand where the artist must have stood and you see what he saw: the exact spot where his work would come, the lighting, the space around it. You cannot get closer to the essence of a work of art and to the soul of a place.

In Flanders you can still find dozens of paintings, sculptures, altarpieces and other works at the place for which they were originally created or where they have often been for centuries. Sometimes in our famous art cities and sometimes in lesser-known but equally beautiful towns and villages. In the past, they often remained somewhat under the radar, but now we have mapped them out for you - literally.

The park surrounding Gaasbeek Castle is also a place where you can admire Flemish Masters.

Gerard Seghers, *The Vision of Saint Gertrude*

The Vision of Saint Gertrude - Gerard Seghers

The early medieval Saint Gertrude of Nivelles was known for her hospitality to pilgrims. She had churches, chapels, schools and hospices built and cared for the poor and needy. Gertrude had an extensive knowledge of the Bible and, as a mystic, had visions such as the one depicted on this canvas. She was invoked against rat and mouse infestations, fever and insanity. The saint is depicted with rats surrounding her crook. The Baroque artist Gerard Seghers painted in the style of Caravaggio and Rubens. A reproduction of this painting currently hangs in the St Gertrude's Chapel, pending a climate study. The reproduction certainly does not detract from Gerard Seghers’ craftsmanship.

Every first Sunday of the month, St Gertrude's Chapel is open free of charge from 1-5pm.

Gloriette - Stucco Ceiling

Close to the castle is the Gloriette, erected by René de Renesse in 1625. The Count used this luxurious garden room to entertain his guests. He also liked to display his wealth with the beautiful stucco ceiling adorned with flowers, fruits, masks and mythological figures. This mixture of plaster and powdered marble, together with mosaic panels, is a combination that was relatively rare in the north in the 17th century. The mythological figures tell the story of Phaëton from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. As the son of Helios, the sun, Phaëton one day wanted to drive the sun god’s chariot. His father warned him that only he could drive the chariot but Phaëton ignored his warning. The chariot soon became uncontrollable and set the earth ablaze. Jupiter then felt compelled to stop him with a thunderbolt. The young man fell out of the chariot and was killed.

Every first Sunday of the month, the Gloriette is open free of charge from 1-5pm.

St Gertrude's Chapel and the Gloriette are located in the 49-hectare park that surrounds Gaasbeek Castle. The avenues invite you for a pleasant wander. Afraid of getting lost? Download a park map here. Have fun strolling!