Gravenkapel

interior of the Count's Chapel

File:Graven van Vlaanderen.jpg

Portraits of all the Counts of Flanders line the walls

interior of the Count's Chapel

File:Gravenkapel Kortrijk.jpg

Chapel viewed from the outside

The Count's Chapel (Gravenkapel in Dutch) is a medieval chapel in Kortrijk, Belgium. It is located next to the Church of Our Lady. It was built under Louis II, Count of Flanders as a mausoleum to the Counts of Flanders and a shrine to Saint Catherine.

History

The Count's Chapel was finished around 1374.

Features

• Portraits of the Counts of Flanders

All niches are ornate and were successively decorated with portraits of each Count of Flanders. It is thought that Jan van Hasselt painted the first series of portraits, from the legendary Liederic de Buc to Louis de Maele the founder of the chapel. The effigies of the successors of Louis de Maele were painted by Melchior Broederlam in 1407. The authors of the next portraits, until Charles V, are unknown.

• Statue of Saint Catherine

White marble statue carved by André Beauneveu.

• Decorations of the niche spandrels.

References

• Dobbelaere L. & Caullet G., Guide illustré de Courtrai