Guild of St. Bernulphus
Encyclopedia
The St. Bernulphusgilde or Guild of St. Bernulphus was a Dutch secret society
/ trade union
Catholic association established on December 1, 1869. Its intention initially was to protect national traditions of old craftmanship in religious art and church architecture. Information about the association's meetings, as well as trade information, was published in their magazine The Guild Book. The association was considered a guild
and named after the 11th-century bishop of Utrecht
, a passionate church builder named Bernold.
, founded by Father Gerald van Heukelum, from the idea of the Flemish St. Thomas Guild and St. Lucas Guild. Membership was originally open only to clergy, but the guild flourished when membership was extended to certain religious artists and architects. Although guild members worked mainly in the Netherlands in the Utrecht province, and to a lesser extent in other parts of the archdiocese, it played an important role in the construction and furnishing of churches throughout the Netherlands. Many well-known artists from Heukelum
and the Rhineland
were welcomed. The association was strict about conforming to particular requirements of style and obtained important jobs because of this.
that focused on indigenous varieties of the late Gothic period, particularly the Gothic Lower Rhine, and was done almost exclusively in brick. The so-called "Utrecht School" of the association was mainly a vehicle for the views of Pierre Cuypers
, who also was an honorary member for whom Gothic Revival was just a starting point for innovation. The design of the Willibrord church in Utrecht followed the concepts of the St. Bernulphus guild association.
Founder Heukelom's collection of art from medieval times served as examples to form a museum in 1872. It was available to the public. This museum in 1882 was elevated to the Archbishop's Museum, the predecessor of the current Museum Catharijneconvent
.
. The most important architect was Alfred Tepe. The silversmith Gerald Brom and builder Michael Maarschalkerweerd were other well known members. The guild stayed active until the 1930s.
than a scholarly society. This characterization was typified by discussions being postponed due to copious dinners that overran their allotted time. Their meetings usually ended up in fraternal jovial feasting. The guild association even had its own song that was sung by the members. The song lyrics were written by Herman Schaepman
(1844-1903), a priest.
Secret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
/ trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
Catholic association established on December 1, 1869. Its intention initially was to protect national traditions of old craftmanship in religious art and church architecture. Information about the association's meetings, as well as trade information, was published in their magazine The Guild Book. The association was considered a guild
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
and named after the 11th-century bishop of Utrecht
Utrecht
Utrecht is a city in the Netherlands.The name may also refer to:* Utrecht , of which Utrecht is the capital* Utrecht , including the city of Utrecht* Bishopric of Utrecht* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht...
, a passionate church builder named Bernold.
Establishment
The association was established in UtrechtUtrecht
Utrecht is a city in the Netherlands.The name may also refer to:* Utrecht , of which Utrecht is the capital* Utrecht , including the city of Utrecht* Bishopric of Utrecht* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht...
, founded by Father Gerald van Heukelum, from the idea of the Flemish St. Thomas Guild and St. Lucas Guild. Membership was originally open only to clergy, but the guild flourished when membership was extended to certain religious artists and architects. Although guild members worked mainly in the Netherlands in the Utrecht province, and to a lesser extent in other parts of the archdiocese, it played an important role in the construction and furnishing of churches throughout the Netherlands. Many well-known artists from Heukelum
Heukelum
Heukelum is a town in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is a part of the municipality of Lingewaal, and lies about 8 km northeast of Gorinchem. It received city rights in 1391.In 2001, the town of Heukelum had 1967 inhabitants...
and the Rhineland
Rhineland
Historically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
were welcomed. The association was strict about conforming to particular requirements of style and obtained important jobs because of this.
Style
The prescribed style for church construction was a conservative variant of the Gothic Revival architectureGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
that focused on indigenous varieties of the late Gothic period, particularly the Gothic Lower Rhine, and was done almost exclusively in brick. The so-called "Utrecht School" of the association was mainly a vehicle for the views of Pierre Cuypers
Pierre Cuypers
Petrus Josephus Hubertus Cuypers was a Dutch architect. His name is most frequently associated with the Amsterdam Central Station and the Rijksmuseum , both in Amsterdam. More representative for his oeuvre, however, are numerous churches, of which he designed more than 100...
, who also was an honorary member for whom Gothic Revival was just a starting point for innovation. The design of the Willibrord church in Utrecht followed the concepts of the St. Bernulphus guild association.
Founder Heukelom's collection of art from medieval times served as examples to form a museum in 1872. It was available to the public. This museum in 1882 was elevated to the Archbishop's Museum, the predecessor of the current Museum Catharijneconvent
Museum Catharijneconvent
The Museum Catharijneconvent is a national museum of religious art in Utrecht. It is located in the former Catharijneconvent, having been sited there since 1979. Its collections include those of the museum of religious art of the Catholic Archbishopric of Utrecht, located in the convent until...
.
Members
The most important member of the St. Bernulphus guild association was considered Friedrich Wilhelm MengelbergFriedrich Wilhelm Mengelberg
Friedrich Wilhelm Mengelberg was a German-Dutch sculptor, architect of church interiors, and art collector. His work promoted the Gothic Revival architectural-style in churches throughout Germany and the Netherlands...
. The most important architect was Alfred Tepe. The silversmith Gerald Brom and builder Michael Maarschalkerweerd were other well known members. The guild stayed active until the 1930s.
Attitude
St. Bernulphus guild association was run more like a fraternityFraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
than a scholarly society. This characterization was typified by discussions being postponed due to copious dinners that overran their allotted time. Their meetings usually ended up in fraternal jovial feasting. The guild association even had its own song that was sung by the members. The song lyrics were written by Herman Schaepman
Herman Schaepman
Herman Johannes Aloysius Maria Schaepman was a Dutch politician and poet.-Life:...
(1844-1903), a priest.
Sources
- Cortjaens, Wolfgang, Historism and cultural identity in the Rhine-Meuse region: tensions between nationalism and regionalism in the nineteenth century, Leuven University Press, 2008, ISBN 9058676668