The Private Papers / Rubens in Life and Death - Exquisite Corpses / Erwin Olaf’s homage to Egmont

Gaasbeek Castle Summer Exhibitions 01.07 - 26.08

The Private Papers / Rubens in Life and Death project

Following the successful Vanity Fair spring exhibition with works by Thomas Lerooy and Félicien Rops, Gaasbeek Castle is carrying the vanitas theme forward. Nothing is more transient than life. The Flemish baroque painter, Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) was aware of this. He documented his wishes concerning his life before, and his life after his death.

In this project, we place two major documents from our castle archive in the spotlight: Rubens’ marriage contract and his last will. Storytelling agency Shaved Monkey has created a multimedia show that brings both exceptional manuscripts to life. Details have been magnified, and provide a special audio-visual experience. The visitor will be given a unique insight into the personal life of the great Flemish master.

In association with the Rubenianum, Antwerp

Exhibition Exquisite Corpses / Erwin Olaf’s Homage to Egmont

Death is omnipresent in the history of Gaasbeek Castle. But one man’s loss was another man’s gain. The castle always rose again, like a phoenix from its ashes. This vanitas, or transience of life in the castle, was captured stunningly in 2012 by the Dutch master photographer, Erwin Olaf (59). He shot photos inspired by the painting 'The Last Tribute to the Counts of Egmont and Horne' (1851) by Louis Gallait, which portrays the deceased Count of Egmont (1522-1568), one of the most striking former castle residents.

Gaasbeek Castle is resuming this exhibition specially for this vanitas year. These impressive photographs show Egmont’s entourage and the Brabant nobility paying him their last respects. Olaf has added some striking female figures, with a nod to Marchioness Arconati Visconti, the last owner of the castle. In addition, he has integrated Belgian fashion (with accessories by names such as Delvaux, Ann Demeulemeester, Jean-Paul Knott, Jean-Paul Lespagnard, Elvis Pompilio, Kaat Tilley, Dries Van Noten, Wouters & Hendrix) into the main scene and the derived portraits. The icing on the cake is a monumental photo of a 'real' vanitas piece, constructed around Egmont’s heart, which is preserved in a lead box.

 

Details / from Sunday 1 July to Sunday 26 August 2018, open daily from 10.00 to 18.00 hours (last entry at 17.00 hours), closed on Mondays, open on public holidays. Tickets cost € 12, discount and group rate € 10, under 18 € 2, under 7 free.

 

For more information about this press release, contact Joke Beyl, T. +32 (0)2 531 01 36 or joke.beyl@cjsm.vlaanderen.be, www.kasteelvangaasbeek.be.

Erwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, The Last Honours to Counts Egmont and Horne, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek CastleErwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, The Last Honours to Counts Egmont and Horne, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek CastleExcerpt from the will of Rubens, 1640, Gaasbeek Castle, ©Photo Lukas - Art in Flanders VZW (www.lukasweb.be)Excerpt from the will of Rubens, 1640, Gaasbeek Castle, ©Photo Lukas - Art in Flanders VZW (www.lukasweb.be)
Peter Paul Rubens, Self-portrait, RH.S.180, Collection City of Antwerp, The Rubens House, photo Michel Wuyts, Louis De PeuterPeter Paul Rubens, Self-portrait, RH.S.180, Collection City of Antwerp, The Rubens House, photo Michel Wuyts, Louis De PeuterErwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, Dean of the Guild of the Big Royal Oath and Saint Georges of the Crossbowmen of Brussels, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek CastleErwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, Dean of the Guild of the Big Royal Oath and Saint Georges of the Crossbowmen of Brussels, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek CastleErwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, Interpretation of Johanna, Daughter of Count of Egmont, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek CastleErwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, Interpretation of Johanna, Daughter of Count of Egmont, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek Castle
Erwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, Interpretation of Sabine, Countess Egmont, Widow of Count of Egmont, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek CastleErwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, Interpretation of Sabine, Countess Egmont, Widow of Count of Egmont, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek CastleErwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, Spanish Soldier, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek CastleErwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, Spanish Soldier, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek Castle
Erwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, Spy of Grand Duke of Alba, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek CastleErwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, Spy of Grand Duke of Alba, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek CastleErwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, Still life with Count of Egmont's heart, Vanitas, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek CastleErwin Olaf, Exquisite Corpses, Still life with Count of Egmont's heart, Vanitas, 2012, Commissioned by Gaasbeek Castle
Harrewijn, Jacobus (engraver), after Croes, Jacques van (designer), The Rubens house in Antwerp, 1684, RH.P.1113, Collection City of Antwerp, The Rubens house, photo Michel Wuyts, Louis De PeuterHarrewijn, Jacobus (engraver), after Croes, Jacques van (designer), The Rubens house in Antwerp, 1684, RH.P.1113, Collection City of Antwerp, The Rubens house, photo Michel Wuyts, Louis De Peuter
https://www.kasteelvangaasbeek.be/nl/evenementen/85/the-private-papers-rubens-bij-leven-en-dood
https://www.kasteelvangaasbeek.be/en/events/84/exquisite-corpses-erwin-olafs-homage-to-egmond

Joke Beyl

Verantwoordelijke communicatie, Kasteel Van Gaasbeek

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About Gaasbeek Castle

Gaasbeek Castle sits enthroned amidst the rolling hills of Pajottenland just outside Brussels. The medieval castle has had an eventful history, evolving from a strategic stronghold to a spacious country house. The Count of Egmond, was one of its best-known owners. The present building was given its romantic restyling at the end of the nineteenth century by the enigmatic French Marchioness Arconati Visconti. She was the daughter-in-law of aristocrats Giuseppe and Costanza Arconati Visconti, who, between 1821 and 1839, turned the castle into a unique meeting place for intellectual exchanges between exiled Italian politicians, European writers and scientists. Marie Arconati Visconti was also interested in the great intellectual debates of her time, as her correspondence with and support for Alfred Dreyfus testify. She set up the castle as a museum for her considerable art collection and treated it like a historical theatre set. The dream castle created then is still something of a time machine with its historic interiors, tapestries, paintings, furniture, sculptures and other valuable objects.

The castle park, with its centuries-old trees, ponds, lanes, winding paths and occasional historic buildings, is the ideal place for winding down. The estate also includes a unique museum garden where old varieties of fruit and vegetables are cultivated. 

Contact

Kasteelstraat 40 1750 Gaasbeek (Lennik)

+3225310130

[email protected]

www.kasteelvangaasbeek.be