Between Heaven and Earth
Discover The Last Supper by Bouts
Just around the corner from M Museum Leuven, the restored St Peter’s Church will soon be the setting for a new sensory experience. M will guide you through the fascinating story of this Gothic church and help you renew your acquaintance with its art treasures: outstanding works by Flemish Masters in their authentic context. ‘Mixed Reality’ will bring Dieric Bouts’ Last Supper truly to life and let you discover a vibrant Leuven, past and present.
Restoration of the font
Restoration of the font dating from the 15th century and attributed to Quentin Massys the Elder. The original font cover disappeared during the French Revolutionary period. Josef Van Uytvanck designed the current cover in 1954, entirely in the Gothic style.
Relocation of the masterpieces
The final stage begins in the restoration of the church’s interior. The M-Treasury at St Peter’s is closed to allow this work. Masterpieces by several Flemish Masters that were displayed in the choir, including The Last Supper by the Leuven painter Dirk Bouts, are moved temporarily to the nave of St Peter’s Church.
First World War
The First World War breaks out. The roof and a substantial part of the interior of St Peter’s Church are reduced to ashes.
Original design is changed
The West Front still has three (unfinished) towers at this point due to repeated collapses caused by soil instability. In the end, the original design has to be changed and the towers are left permanently unfinished. The dreamed-of central tower would have been 168 metres high, making St Peter’s the tallest of all Brabant’s cathedrals. The original plans have survived and are now in M Museum Leuven.
The West Front still has three (unfinished) towers at this point due to repeated collapses caused by soil instability. In the end, the original design has to be changed and the towers are left permanently unfinished. The dreamed-of central tower would have been 168 metres high, making St Peter’s the tallest of all Brabant’s cathedrals. The original plans have survived and are now in M Museum Leuven.
Images:
- Model of the West Towers of St Peter’s Church – Joost Massys: B/VI/247
- The tower of St Peter’s Church in Leuven after the collapse in 1604: LP/454
- West Front of St Peter’s Church in Leuven with three towers: LP/456
Construction of the current Gothic church
The Romanesque building is gradually dismantled and construction of the current Gothic church begins. It will take over a century to complete the building. Little remains today of the late-medieval structure. Only the crypt (the former imperial mausoleum), which was discovered during archaeological excavations shortly after the Second World War, can still be visited by the public.
Van het laatmiddeleeuwse romaanse gebouw blijft vandaag nog weinig over. Enkel de crypte (de vroegere keizerlijke grafkerk), die werd ontdekt tijdens archeologische opgravingen vlak na de Tweede Wereldoorlog, is vandaag nog door het publiek te bezoeken.
St Peter’s Church is built
The original building is replaced by a Romanesque church in stone with six bays and a square choir. It functions as a symbol of both political and religious power. The West Tower of the church serves as the city belfry. From now on, the Dukes of Brabant will be buried in the church’s crypt, which can still be seen today. The tomb of Duke Henry I of Brabant is now located in the choir of the church. His remains are interred in the crypt.
Ze fungeerde als een symbool voor zowel politieke als religieuze macht. De westelijke toren van de kerk deed dienst als stadsbelfort. De crypte – die vandaag nog steeds te zien is in de kerk – zal vanaf dan dienen als grafruimte voor de hertogen van Brabant. Het grafmonument van Hertog Hendrik I van Brabant staat vandaag in het koor van de kerk. Zijn beenderen werden ingemetseld in de crypte.
Lodewijk Jozef Van Peteghem, Graf van Hendrik I, hertog van Brabant, in de Leuvense Sint-Pieterskerk, 19de eeuw © M - Museum Leuven