Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Saint Carolus Borromeus church

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Location
  
Antwerp

Denomination
  
Catholic

Founder(s)
  
Jacobus Tirinus

Spire height
  
58 m

Designated as world heritage site
  
1939

Country
  
Belgium

Former name(s)
  
St Ignatius Loyola

Opened
  
1626

Phone
  
+32 3 231 37 51

Saint Carolus Borromeus church

Website
  
top.carolusborromeus.com

Address
  
Hendrik Conscienceplein 12, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium

Diocese
  
Roman Catholic Diocese of Antwerp

Architects
  
Pieter Huyssens, François d'Aguilon

Similar
  
Cathedral of Our Lady, St Paul's Church - Antwerp, St James' Church - Antwerp, Het Steen, Rubenshuis

The St.-Carolus Borromeuskerk is a church in Antwerp, located on Hendrik Conscience square. The church was formerly known for 39 ceiling pieces by Rubens that were lost in a fire when it was struck by lightning on 18 July 1718.

Contents

History

The church was inspired by the Church of the Gesu, the mother church of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Jesuits. The church was built next to the Huis van Aecken, bought from the heirs of Erasmus II Schetz. It was the first church in the world to be dedicated to the Jesuit founder, Ignatius Loyola.

Rubens ceiling paintings

In 1617-1618 Rubens painted two altarpieces. He was also commissioned to paint the ceiling pieces, for which he made the designs while the execution was done mostly by pupils, including Anthony van Dyck. A contract was drawn up in 1620 by Jacobus Tirinus and the paintings were delivered a year later in time for the consecration. Rubens received 7,000 guilders for his works in the church, and though the lavish decorations including sculptures and other artwork were well received, Tirinus was dismissed in 1625 for going beyond his budget.

18th century

In 1718 the vault of the ship, including Rubens' ceiling paintings, was destroyed by fire. Jan Pieter van Baurscheidt the Elder restored the damaged parts according to the original plan, but replaced the original coffers with wide transverse arches. In 1773 the Society of Jesus was suppressed and the building was confiscated. It reopened in 1779, renamed St.-Carolus Borromeuskerk, after Charles Borromeo.

19th century

Since 1803 the St.-Carolus Borromeuskerk has been in use as a parish church. During the Dutch reign preceding Belgium's independence in 1830 the baroque interior was sobered to make it a Protestant church.

1980s restoration

A restoration campaign in the 1980s brought back the churches baroque splendor. Besides works by Rubens the interior displays paintings by Gerard Seghers, Daniel Seghers, and Cornelis Schut.

20th century

On 30 August 2009 fire broke out again, but none of the important artworks were damaged.

References

Saint Carolus Borromeus church Wikipedia