Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 50a, The Paul and Jill Ruddock Gallery

This object consists of 4 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Candlestick

early 17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

These are in total fourteen candlesticks from the Hertogenbosch rood-loft (V&A Mus. No: 1046-1871) of the cathedral at Bois-le-Duc, Holland. These are the four among fourteen (from 644 to 644M-1872) candlesticks made in the early 17th century or later and are Flemish or Dutch. The candlesticsks are in beaten brass. Three (644, 644A and 644C-1872) are engraved with shields of arms and dated 1613 while 644B is engraved with a different shield of arms.

The rood-loft was acquired by the V&A from the art dealer Murray Marks who had purchased it from the cathedral authorities. It was probably removed from the cathedral in 1866 because it obstructed the congregation's view of the high altar and because its style clashed with that of the Gothic church. In 1871 the rood-loft was purchased outright and it was rebuilt on the south wall of the Cast Court. During 1923-4 the roodloft was reconstructed in Gallery 50. The north and south ends cannot be seen properly because of the lack of space so the figures of Justice and Peace were removed and are now displayed closer to ground level in the two altar niches under the north and south arches.





Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Candlestick
  • Candlestick
  • Candlestick
  • Candlestick
Materials and techniques
Beaten brass
Brief description
Candlesticks, beaten brass from the Hertogenbosch rood-loft of the cathedral at Bois-le-Duc (1046-1871), Flemish or Dutch, early 17th century
Physical description
Beaten brass candlesticks. Of the six that are in store, five are of beaten brass made in sections rivetted and soldered together, and one is a modern electrotype in copper. Of the five brass ones, three have engraved on the stem a coat-of-arms incorporating in the canton the four lions passant gardant of Hainault and the date 1613, while one has engraved another coat-of-arms, possibly of a guild, but without a date. The fifth is not engraved. Of the eight on the balustrade of the loft, seven are in beaten brass, and one is a modern electrotype in copper. None are engraved.
Dimensions
  • Height: 51cm
  • Diameter: 30.5cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Object history
From the Hertogenbosch rood-loft (V&A Mus. No: 1046-1871) of the cathedral at Bois-le-Duc.

The rood-loft was acquired by the V&A from the art dealer Murray Marks who had purchased it from the cathedral authorities. It was probably removed from the cathedral in 1866 because it obstructed the congregation's view of the high altar and because its style clashed with that of the Gothic church. In 1871 the rood-loft was purchased outright and it was rebuilt on the south wall of the Cast Court. During 1923-4 the roodloft was reconstructed in Gallery 50. The north and south ends cannot be seen properly because of the lack of space so the figures of Justice and Peace were removed and are now displayed closer to ground level in the two altar niches under the north and south arches.
The history of this roodloft is intimately linked with religious protest and reform. It was erected in 1610-1613 under the supervision of Coenraed van Norenberch. The figure of St John the Evangelist (Mus. No. 1046:11-1871), however, was carved in 1613 by Hendick de Keyser (b.1565; d.1621). The rest of the sculpture was probably carved in the workshop of Coenraed van Norenberch. The roodloft has some similarities with a rood loft in Antwerp cathedral (destroyed during the French Revolution).
Production
644, 644a and 644c have a coat-of-arms and are dated 1613, while 644b is engraved with a different coat-of-arms.
Subject depicted
Summary
These are in total fourteen candlesticks from the Hertogenbosch rood-loft (V&A Mus. No: 1046-1871) of the cathedral at Bois-le-Duc, Holland. These are the four among fourteen (from 644 to 644M-1872) candlesticks made in the early 17th century or later and are Flemish or Dutch. The candlesticsks are in beaten brass. Three (644, 644A and 644C-1872) are engraved with shields of arms and dated 1613 while 644B is engraved with a different shield of arms.

The rood-loft was acquired by the V&A from the art dealer Murray Marks who had purchased it from the cathedral authorities. It was probably removed from the cathedral in 1866 because it obstructed the congregation's view of the high altar and because its style clashed with that of the Gothic church. In 1871 the rood-loft was purchased outright and it was rebuilt on the south wall of the Cast Court. During 1923-4 the roodloft was reconstructed in Gallery 50. The north and south ends cannot be seen properly because of the lack of space so the figures of Justice and Peace were removed and are now displayed closer to ground level in the two altar niches under the north and south arches.



Associated object
1046:1-1871 (Ensemble)
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1872, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., p. 53
  • Fortnum, C. Drury E. A descriptive catalogue of the bronzes of European origin in the South Kensington Museum. London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode and sold by Chapman & Hall, 1876
Collection
Accession number
644 to C-1872

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Record createdSeptember 12, 2008
Record URL
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