Promotors Prof. dr. Anne-Laure Van Bruaene Department of History Prof. dr. Koenraad Jonckheere ...

497 Pages·2017·3.34 MB·English

by  Gitte Callaert

Promotors Prof. dr. Anne-Laure Van Bruaene
Department of History
Prof. dr. Koenraad Jonckheere
Department of Art History, Musicology and Theatre Studies

Dean Prof. dr. Marc Boone
Rector Prof. dr. Rik Van de Walle
Cover design by Gitte Callaert.
Image: Saint Leonard, c. 1350-1360, painted oak, decorated with gemstones, 107 cm,
Zoutleeuw, Church of Saint Leonard (© KIK-IRPA).

This dissertation is the result of the research project Embodied Piety in the Age of Iconoclasm.
Church, Artifact and Religious Routine in the sixteenth-century Low Countries, funded by the
Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO).
Faculty of Arts and Philosophy

T
HE MATTER OF PIETY

M Z '
ATERIAL CULTURE IN OUTLEEUW S
S L
CHURCH OF AINT EONARD
( . 1450-1620)
C

RUBEN SUYKERBUYK

VOLUME I - TEXT

Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the interdisciplinary
degree of Doctor of Art Science and of History
2017

In the wild cathedral evening the rain unraveled tales
For the disrobed faceless forms of no position
Tolling for the tongues with no place to bring their thoughts
All down in taken-for-granted situations

Bob Dylan, Chimes of freedom

Preface
This preface has already been written several times, drafted and rewritten during
many late nights over the last four years. That I can now replace those fictitious
forewords with an actual one would not have been possible without the invaluable
help and unremitting support of some very special people. These words of gratitude are
therefore not merely customary, but heartfelt. First and foremost, I would like to
thank my two promotors, Anne-Laure and Koen. Without them there simply would
not have been a project, and I am immensely grateful that they trusted in my ability
to bring it to a good end. A topic that four years ago was a personal interest has now
become much more to me, not least through the numerous discussions we had. They
wisely steered me through the Scylla and Charybdis of doctoral research and provided
me with the most useful suggestions. They were not only devoted and helpful
promotors, but also the kindest people to work with. Their advice, together with the
intelligent remarks by Maarten Delbeke during the DBC meetings, were of crucial
importance for the success of this dissertation.

The church of Zoutleeuw has become so dear to me through the wonderful discoveries
with Ward Hendrickx as knowledgeable guide, and he and Guido Coningx (De
Vrienden van Zoutleeuw) were always willing and able to provide me with any
requested bits of information. My archival research was greatly facilitated by the
expert help and guidance of Eddy Put and Marc Carnier (Rijksarchief Leuven), Gerrit
Vanden Bosch (Aartsbisschoppelijk Archief Mechelen) and Robrecht Janssen
(Vlierbeek). It would not have been possible to come to decent interpretations of the
Latin sources that I stubbornly decided to include without the generous help and
translating skills of Monique Van Melkebeek, Jetze Touber, Pieter Byttebier and
Roman Roobroeck. However, it goes without saying that any possible errors that still
figure in the text are my complete responsibility. My conclusions have also greatly
benefitted from discussions with fellow seizièmistes at the many interdepartmental
Sweet Sixteen meetings at Ghent University.

It was a privilege to enjoy the hospitality of the Rubenianum and its wonderful team,
and I particularly thank director Véronique Van de Kerckhof for generously allowing
me to make use of the institution’s facilities. Emanuelle Mercier, Ingrid Geelen and
Géraldine Patigny from the KIK-IRPA very kindly provided their own research data
with me, as did Jan van Herwaarden on Zoutleeuw as a destination for judicial
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pilgrimages and Dagmar Germonprez on the financial support from Albert and
Isabella. I have been introduced to the Ardchdukes and their court by René Vermeir
and Luc Duerloo, Frederik Buylaert took me on a trip through the wondrous world of
the nobility and Erik Aerts enlightened me on previously unknown principles of
inflation and real wage indexes. I also warmly thank Jacques Toussat for the
reconstruction drawing of Saint Leonard’s chapel and for unbegrudgingly reworking it
time and again in the slightest details, Hans Blomme for providing beautiful maps,
and Justin Kroesen, Elizabeth Mattison, Friso Lammertse, Maarten Bassens and
Jeroen Reyniers for providing me with proper and indispensable images. My non-
native English writing was flawlessly transformed by Suzanne Duff, who moreover did
her utmost best to finish the work before the highly inconvenient deadline.

On a more personal level, I should thank Christa, for her noble and extracurricular
coaching. She and all my other immediate colleagues made of the office at the UFo a
warm and welcoming home from the very first day. As an art historian I have not even
once felt like the odd one out, for which I thank all of them. Conversely, I am also
immensely grateful to my art historical mates, who never abandoned me in spite of my
historical escapades. Many within this group of colleagues have become deeply
appreciated friends, and I thank all of them as much for the interesting discussions -
either related to any research topic or not - as for the shared sorrows of the burdens
and more prosaic aspects to doctoral life, including but certainly not limited to the
university’s gastronomical facilities. It is beyond doubt that my only slightly harmed
mental well-being after a four-year intellectual and emotional rollercoaster is the result
of their collegiality and friendship. The same goes for all of my other dear friends in
Essen, Antwerp, Brussels, Utrecht and elsewhere in the Low Countries, whom I also
thank for the necessary recreations throughout the sometimes stressful times, and for
not asking me too often what on earth I was actually doing and what obscure purpose
their tax money was being spent on. My family has been the greatest support
imaginable, and I offer my deepest thanks to my parents, my brother and sister-in-
law, my youngest and sweetest family member Fien and my father- and mother-in-law
for always being there and for understanding when I couldn't be there. And finally, my
loving thanks goes to my dearest Claire, for her encouraging words in moments of
doubt.

Brussels
December 2017

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List of abbreviations
Archives, collections and libraries

AAM Aartsbisschoppelijk Archief Mechelen
DAZ Dekenij Archief Zoutleeuw
KAB Kerkarchief Brabant
KBR Koninklijke Bibliotheek Brussel
RAB Rijksarchief Brussel
RAL Rijksarchief Leuven
SAA Stadsarchief Antwerpen
SAB Stadsarchief Brussel
SAL Stadsarchief Leuven
SL Schepengriffies Arrondissement Leuven

Coins and currencies

g Groot
Kg Karolusgulden
Plc Plak
Rg Rijnsgulden
St Stuiver

Weights and measures

h Halster
lb Pond
m Mudde
q Quart

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Other abbreviations

KR Kerkrekening (churchwarden account), followed by the financial year in
question. From 1452 until 1577 this ran from 24 June in the mentioned
year until 23 June in the following year. From 1589 onwards it ran from
January until December. Unless noted otherwise, reference is always
made to the final, official version. See also Appendix 1.

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