Anchin Abbey
Encyclopedia
Anchin Abbey was a Benedictine monastery founded in 1079 in the commune of Pecquencourt
in what is now the Nord department of France
.
, the river Scarpe and the Bouchart brook.
The hermit and confessor Gordaine built his hermitage on the island in the 8th century) and is sometimes considered the abbey's founder: an anonymous 12th century painting in the church of Saint-Gilles at Pecquencourt shows his miracles.
In 1096 the abbey was the site of a large tournament
, the Tournoi d'Anchin, at which 300 knights from Ostrevent, Hainaut
, Cambrésis and Artois
fought. An important cultural centre from the 11th to 13th centuries, it produced many manuscripts and charters.
In 1562 Anchin College was built by the Jesuits under the abbey's patronage. It was suppressed in the French Revolution
, declared state property by the decree of 28 October 1790, sold to François-Joseph Tassart of Douai
on 27 March 1792 for 47,700 livres and demolished later that year.
on wood of c.1551 by the artist Jehan Bellegambe
, now held at the musée de la Chartreuse de Douai
. The Lille
painter Bernard Joseph Wamps also produced many works for the abbey, including many sketches destroyed by fire in the First World War.
Pecquencourt
-References:*...
in what is now the Nord department of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
History
Aquicintum, later Aquacignium and then Anchin (or Enchin), was a 25 hectare island forming part of the territory of Pecquencourt, between the maraisMarais
Marais means "marsh" in the French language.Marais may also refer to:* Marais , a manufacturer of wheel trenchers, chain trenchers and micro-trenchers based in Durtal, France* Marais des Cygnes...
, the river Scarpe and the Bouchart brook.
The hermit and confessor Gordaine built his hermitage on the island in the 8th century) and is sometimes considered the abbey's founder: an anonymous 12th century painting in the church of Saint-Gilles at Pecquencourt shows his miracles.
In 1096 the abbey was the site of a large tournament
Tournament
A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses:...
, the Tournoi d'Anchin, at which 300 knights from Ostrevent, Hainaut
County of Hainaut
The County of Hainaut was a historical region in the Low Countries with its capital at Mons . In English sources it is often given the archaic spelling Hainault....
, Cambrésis and Artois
Artois
Artois is a former province of northern France. Its territory has an area of around 4000 km² and a population of about one million. Its principal cities are Arras , Saint-Omer, Lens and Béthune.-Location:...
fought. An important cultural centre from the 11th to 13th centuries, it produced many manuscripts and charters.
In 1562 Anchin College was built by the Jesuits under the abbey's patronage. It was suppressed in the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, declared state property by the decree of 28 October 1790, sold to François-Joseph Tassart of Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
on 27 March 1792 for 47,700 livres and demolished later that year.
Treasures
A 13th century gilded copper priest's cross, found at Anchin in 1872 in a tomb, is now in the musée des Beaux-Arts de Valenciennes. The Anchin Retable is a polyptychPolyptych
A polyptych generally refers to a painting which is divided into sections, or panels. The terminology that follows is in relevance to the number of panels integrated into a particular piece of work: "diptych" describes a two-part work of art; "triptych" describes a three-part work; "tetraptych"...
on wood of c.1551 by the artist Jehan Bellegambe
Jehan Bellegambe
Jehan Bellegambe or Jean Bellegambe was a French painter of religious paintings, triptychs and polyptychs, the most important of which are now held at Douai, Arras, Aix, Lille, Saint Petersburg and Chicago. He was known as the 'master of colours' for the transparency and interplay of his colours...
, now held at the musée de la Chartreuse de Douai
Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai
The Musée de la Chartreuse is an art museum in a former Carthusian monastery in Douai. It is the 'musée des Beaux-Arts' for the city.- Building :...
. The Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
painter Bernard Joseph Wamps also produced many works for the abbey, including many sketches destroyed by fire in the First World War.