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80 Route 7. GOURTRAI. From Ghent
is a marble statue, by Paul de Vigne (1895), of De Haerne (Pl. 5),
a member of the congress of 1830 (p. xxv).
The Gothic Hotel de Ville (P1. B, 2), on the N. side of the Grand’
Place, erected in 1526-28, has been completely restored since 1846,
and the facade embellished with statues in the original style. The
Salle Echevinale, on the groundfloor, is embellished with frescoes
from the history of Flanders by Guffens and Swerts, completed in
4875. The principal of these represent the Departure of Baldwin IX.,
Count of Flanders, at the commencement of the Fourth Crusade
(1202), and the Consultation of the Flemish leaders in the Court
Room the day before the Battle of the Spurs, 1302 (see p. 79). Its
Renaissance chimney-piece is adorned with the coats-of-arms of
the allied towns of Ghent and Bruges, the standard-bearers of the
knights of Courtrai, a figure of the Virgin, and statues of Archduke
Albert and his wife (p. xxiv). — In the Council Chamber upstairs
js another and more interesting chimney-piece in the richest Flam-
boyant style (1527). Three rows of well-executed statuettes re-
present the different virtues and vices: in the upper section we see
faith, humility, liberality, chastity, brotherly love, temperance,
patience, and watchfulness; in the middle section, idolatry, pride,
avarice, voluptuousness, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth. The reliefs
below seem to indicate the punishments which follow in the train
of these vices. On corbels are placed statuettes of Charles Y., Peace
(on the right), and Justice (on the left). The walls are covered with
large plans of the town and its jurisdiction (‘castelany’), painted in
oil (1641). Visitors ring at the outside staircase in the Rue de
Lille for the concierge (1/5 4 fr.), who shows the Musée d’Antiquités
(p. 84) also.
A few yards behind the De Haerne Monument is the Béguinage
(Pl. C, 2; p. 77), founded in 1241. — Immediately to the right is
Sr. Martry’s Cuurca (PI. 0, 2, 3), the Gothic tower of which is vis-
ible from the Grand’ Place; the nave was erected in 1390-1439, the
transept about 1415, the beautiful W. portal in 1592-95. The in-
terior has been restored since a fire in 1862. The handsome pulpit
of carved wood and the beautiful ciborium in gilded stone (22 ft.
high; in the choir, to the left), executed in the 16th cent., were
saved from the fire. In the N. transept is a winged picture by B. de
Ryckere (of Courtrai; 1587), representing the Descent of the Holy
Ghost, the Creation, and Baptism.
At No. 4 in the Rue du Béguinage, which leads to the N. from
the Béguinage, is the Musée de la Ville (Pl. C, 2), on the first floor
of which is a good collection of modern pictures. The museum is open
free on Sun., Mon., and Thurs., 10-12 & 2-5; other days, adm. 25 ¢.
Nic. de Keyser, Battle of the Spurs (p. 79); Hv. Carpentier, ‘Une Alerte’
(scene from the Vendean campaign); Const. Meunier, Burial of a monk;
L. Artan, Fr. Courtens, Landscapes; L. Robbe, Alf. Verwée, Animal-pieces. —
During the restoration of Notre Dame (p. 81) the *Raising of the Cross, one
of Van Dyck’s best pictures (1631), will be exhibited here. |
