Travels with a Curator: Charterhouse, Bruges

A presentation by Xavier F. Salomon of the Frick Collection of a beautiful painting, “The Virgin and Child with St. Barbara, St. Elizabeth, and Jan Vos,” by Jan van Eyck, commissioned by Jan Vos, the prior of the Charterhouse of Bruges.  

As others have commented, there is a theological error in the explanation of the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory provided in the video; souls in Purgatory can only be destined for Heaven, not Hell. 

Ghost Queen?

I have noticed that there was quite a tradition of depicting Queen Astrid after her death as a spirit watching over her family. Above is one of the more successful portrayals of this kind, I think. Others, such as the one below, strike me as decidedly creepy.

A Drawing

At Lucy's request, I am posting a drawing I did of Lilian Baels, based on this lovely photograph of the princess:

Of course, I did not do her justice, but at any rate, it was fun to try to draw this beauty. I think I will keep trying...

Mystery Portrait

At Royal Portraits, this is listed as a painting of Queen Louise of the Belgians, but recently, on a discussion board, I came across a comment to the effect that some think it is a portrait of one of her sisters. I found that quite hard to believe. Only two of her sisters, Marie and Clementine, survived infancy, and both were definitely brunettes:

I thought perhaps it was really that some thought it was a portrait of one of her sisters-in-law, and, in fact, Wikimedia Commons describes the same painting as a portrait of Louise's cousin, Princess Maria Carolina of the Two Sicilies, wife of one of the Belgian queen's younger brothers. If it is Maria Carolina, she looks so much like Louise!

Queen Astrid and...Chocolate!

This is charming. There is a renowned Parisian chocolate company named after the beloved fourth Queen of the Belgians. It was founded in 1935 by one Mlle. Fernande Gobert, a fervent French admirer of Astrid who (like most of the world) was deeply shocked and grieved at her tragic death. Mlle. Gobert wrote an ardent letter to the Belgian court, begging for permission to use the Queen's name for her new chocolate boutique. She was allowed to do so, on condition that her products be top quality, worthy of this admirable lady. Thus, "à La Reine Astrid" was born. You can learn more and investigate the company's products HERE (the site is in French but readable in other languages via Google Translate).

A Blue Garden

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As Queen Astrid's best friend, Anna Sparre, recalls in her memoirs, Queen Elisabeth of Belgium loved horticulture and kept a special garden featuring a variety of blue flowers. She had a firm belief in the soothing effects of blue. So, in her honor, I present some lovely blue blossoms.

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Anna Sparre remembered that after leaving the garden, everything seemed garish and jarring...so she thought there might be truth in the Queen's theory. What do you think? Are blue flowers relaxing?