La Châsse De Sainte Ursule Gravée Au Trait par Charles Onghena D'Après Jean Memling Avec Texte Par Octave Delepierre Et Auguste Voisin. Dédié à la Reine des Belges.
All numbered plates are signed as painted by Memling and engraved by Ch. Onghena. The frontispiece is signed as engraved by Ch. Onghena.
The title-page vignette is unsigned.
References
H. Lobelle-Caluwe, 'Het Ursulaschrij van Hans Memling', in Jb. Stad.: Brugge Stedl. Mus. (1991-2), p. 253-69; E.J. Mundy, Painting in Bruges, 1470-1550: an annotated bibliography (1985).
Summary Note
The work reproduces paintings on one of Memling's best-known works, the reliquary of St. Ursula (now in the Memling Museum, Bruges); which he completed for St Ursula's day (21 October), 1489. The reliquary is designed as a Gothic chapel, its two long sides each carrying three images of the life of the saint, one end-gable showing the saint protecting her virgins, the other showing the Virgin and Christ-Child. The roof, painted by another hand in Memling's style, carries on each side an image of St. Ursula in glory flanked by two medallion-images of angels.
The text is in four chapters: I. Notice sur Jean Memling; II. Recherches historiques sur la vie de sainte Ursule; III. Légende de sainte Ursule; IV. Description de la Châsse de sainte Ursule (i. Cologne; ii. Débarquement à Bâle; iii. Arrivée à Rome; iv. Le Départ pour Cologne; v. Le Massacre; vi. Mort de sainte Ursule).
The plates are line drawings. They are captioned, and show: frontis. Châsse De Sainte Ursule; 1. Arrivée A Cologne; 2. Débarquement A Bâle; 3. Arrivée A Rome; 4. Départ Pour Cologne; 5. Le Massacre; 6. Mort De Sainte Ursule; 7. Sainte Ursule Protégeant Les Jeunes Filles; 8. La Vierge Marie; 9, 10. Anges Célébrant Les Gloires De Ste. Ursule; 11. Glorification De Sainte Ursule; 12. Sainte Ursule Dans Le Ciel Avec Ses Compagnes.
Provenance
Presented by Thomas Uwins RA in 1848 (see RA Council Minutes, X, 229).
Binding Note
19th-century half red morocco, marbled-papered boards; spine lettered 'La Chasse De Saint Ursule'.
Christian art and symbolism - Saints - Iconography
Christians - Saints - Martyrs - Persecution - Germany - Cologne - History - 4th century
Paintings, European - Paintings, Belgian - Paintings, Dutch - Reliquaries - Belgium - Bruges - 15th century
Pictorial works - Belgium - 19th century