Contemporary look at baroque masterpieces
In what ways did the Jesuits deploy the Baroque visual language of the time to persuade the public of their vision on humankind, religion and society? In this beautifully illustrated book, which includes numerous artworks by Peter Paul Rubens and others, diverse authors rise to the challenge of finding answers to this complex question.
The setting is Antwerp in the 17th century. At that time, the city was the Jesuit Order’s headquarters in the Netherlands and a bastion against the Calvinism in the Northern Netherlands Republic. The fine arts were flourishing there like never before. Painters such as Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck produced works for the Jesuits and participated in the Catholic community life organised by the order, with large groups of fellow believers. This publication takes a close look at the Baroque Saint Ignatius Church, now the Saint Charles Borromeo Church on Hendrik Conscienceplein, for which Rubens created magnificent ceiling paintings. The authors also show how more modest forms of art, such as religious folk prints, illustrated lives of the saints, schoolbooks, emblemata books and prayer books, were used to kindle the enthusiasm of as many believers as possible, both in their own country and in distant overseas territories.
Baroque Influencers – Jesuits, Rubens and the Arts of Persuasion presents written contributions from researchers affiliated with the Universities of Antwerp, Louvain and Stuttgart and various heritage institutes.
Publication accompanying the triptych of exhibitions of the same name in the Saint Charles Borromeo, the museum Snijders&Rockox House and the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library in Antwerp from 22 April until 16 July 2023. The exhibition is part of the Baroque Influencers city festival.
FOREWORD
Baroque Influencers Changes our View of the Future
Bea Cantillon and Herman Van Goethem
INTRODUCTION
“The Laurel of this Forest, the Sun of this Heaven”
Pierre Delsaerdt and Esther Van Thielen
The Jesuits-Galvanisers of the Catholic Reformation in 17th-century Antwerp
Guido Marnef
JESUITS AND NOVICES
Pierre Delsaerdt
Antwerp Prints (1550-1650): A Success Story
Joris Van Grieken
PUPILS AND THEIR PARENTS
Hubert Meeus
“FOLLOWERS”
Steven Van Impe and Tine Van Osselaer
VISITORS
Hildegard Van de Velde
Rubens and the Jesuits
Nils Büttner and Bert Watteeuw
Rubens’ Ceiling Paintings
Nils Büttner and Bert Watteeuw
D’Aguilón, Huyssens and Rubens as Baroque Influencers: The Ignatius Church
Ria Fabri and Piet Lombaerde
THE PEOPLE OF ANTWERP
Guido Marnef
OTHER FAITHS
Pierre Delsaerdt and Guido Marnef
PLAYFUL DIVINE LOVE
Marc Van Vaeck and Johan Verberckmoes
About the Authors
Baroque Influencers in the Snijders & Rockox House in Antwerp
Select Bibliography
Index of Names
Colophon
Photography Credits
