Belgian Funerary Hatchment - Van den Hecke - 1926

A very large antique funerary hatchment (or Blazoen in Flemish), framed oil on panel. Salvaged from 'The Church of Our Lady of the Nativity', a Roman Catholic church in Ghent, Belgium, originally completed in 1868 on the site of an earlier church, dating back to 1731. The current church was designed by architect W.J. van Vogelpoel, and is now designated as a Municipal Monument (a listed building).  

This particular example would have been painted in 1926, and is the original produced following the death of Robert Alfred van den Hecke, a squire born in France - son of Alfred van den Hecke & Marie Therese.  He was born 2nd April 1881 and died 28th June 1926 - we also have the hatchment of his wife (Valerie van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie), who died on 16th December 1956 (see other listing), and is widely recognized as the first woman passenger in an airplane, having flown with Henri Farman during an airshow in Ghent in 1908.

A bright and vibrant piece, produced by a local artist, and was displayed in the church for approximately 90 years, prior to a major refurbishment in 2017.  We originally had 4 of these pieces, all different family members and with variations to the decoration (2 with added shields), one has sold, but we still have the husband, wife and son (1926, 1956 & 1998).

The practice of painting funerary hatchments dates back to at least the 17th Century.

Measures: 165cm wide x 170cm tall

DELIVERY OF THIS ITEM: Due to the size of this piece, please contact us for a delivery quotation prior to buying.