Barokke Influencers at the Saint Charles Borromeo Church

Saint Charles Borromeo Church

Hendrik Conscienceplein, Antwerp

22/04/2023 – 16/07/2023

Barokke Influencers

One of the big exhibitions this year is totally my thing: ‘Baroque Influencers’. In 2018, the Baroque year, I published my book about Baroque in Antwerp (only in Dutch) and as you know, Rubens is one of my favorite painters. My favourite places to guide in Antwerp are the Port House, the Heritage Library and the Sint-Carolus Borromeus Church. Now comes the fun part: the city festival will take place at these 3 locations (and in the KMSKA and the Snijders&Rockox House).

Jesuits

In this blog post I will only discuss the expo in the Saint Charles Borromeo Church . The other places are covered in other articles. The church is the center of everything. The Jesuits built this church in six years (!) with their house and the sodality as extra wings around the Jesuit Square. It was the first church dedicated to Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the order. He was canonized in 1622, a year after the opening of the church. The Jesuits dedicate their church to Mary first: in the facade of the church she is at the very top and the bust of Ignatius was placed just below it.

The Jesuits saw the propagation and defense of the Catholic faith through preaching and teaching as their task. Antwerp had gone through a difficult time: after 1585 Protestant Antwerp residents had four years to leave the city. Those who did stay had to repent. The Jesuits wanted as many inhabitants as possible to return to the Catholic faith and they acted as real influencers.

Holy Rosalia

Many men came into contact with the Jesuits through the social services, see the article of the exhibition in the Heritage Library. Women were also addressed, for example by books devoted to female saints. This was to serve as an example, so that you could pursue a saintly life as a woman. One of those holy women with great devotion in Antwerp was Saint Rosalia. From 1627, a relic of her was kept in a silver shrine in Antwerp. The original has been lost, but the expo features what is likely a copy of the original shrine. In addition to the painting by Antoon Van Dijck and the relic, there were also many prints for the general public.

Influencers through education, scientists and writers

Education was a core task for the Jesuits. Not only the richer children were educated, the poorer children were also taught on Sunday. During the week they could not attend classes because they had to work or because the parents had no money for the lessons, so the Jesuits founded Sunday schools. Books were used in these schools, including many prints for those who could not read (well). The Jesuits also published scientific books, such as the book on optics by François d’Aguilon or the Acta Sanctorum, a project on saints’ lives. By the end of the 18th century, the Jesuits in Antwerp had published more than 6,000 books. There are beautiful copies here in the exhibition, be sure to look under the cloths that protect the books from the light.

Visit

You can only visit this exhibition or purchase a combi ticket with which you can also visit the exhibitions in the Heritage Library and the Snijders&Rockoxhuis.

If you want a tour and walk along the three locations, you can always contact me or book via Experience Antwerp and mention my name as a preferred guide. You can always contact me for other questions or comments.