A throne. Luxurious clothes embellished with lace and ermine. A diamond pectoral cross. And behind the curtain: a library.
You are looking at Henricus Josephus van Susteren, Bishop of Bruges in the first half of the 18th century. Born into a wealthy family, Van Susteren presents himself to us as an intellectual and a true Prince of the Church.
After the religious wars between the Catholics and the Protestants, the Catholic Church is rather combative. It proudly displays its faith, as the Bishop shows here. It does so with impressive buildings and jubilant Baroque art. And with stately portraits. But also by helping people in poverty, which is what Van Susteren does as well.
New art and architecture are needed. This is because at the end of the 16th century, vandals destroyed or stole many artworks and church treasures. The Calvinists expelled the clergy from their Bruges monasteries, and many of those monasteries were given a different function. These were troubled times for the Church.
In the late 16th century, priests and monks return to Bruges. They re-establish their monasteries and churches. In Baroque style. Everything is new: paintings, stained-glass windows, silver and gold work, furniture and woodcarvings…. You can see some beautiful examples in this room. Wealthy people, such as Van Susteren, act as sponsors and patrons. Craftsmen and artists from Bruges and elsewhere receive many commissions from the Church.
New monastic orders come from the countryside and settle inside the safe city walls. Churches and over thirty monasteries occupy almost a quarter of the surface area of Bruges city centre. The monks of the famous Ten Duinen Abbey in Koksijde move to Bruges as well. Their impressive Baroque abbey is built on Potterierei. Today, we know it as the Grootseminarie, a seminary for priest candidates.