Gentil Theodoor Antheunis
Encyclopedia
Gentil Theodoor Antheunis (9 September 1840 – 5 August 1907) was a Flemish
poet. He was the son-in-law of Hendrik Conscience
, whose only daughter Maria he married in 1870. He was born in Oudenaarde
.
From 1859 until 1860, he was a teacher in the college of Oudenaarde and in 1861 he became a teacher in Dendermonde
. After his early career as a teacher he studied law
at the University of Ghent, where he graduated in 1866. He became a judge on 1 January 1868 in Oostrozebeke
, later in Torhout
, on 15 July 1877 he became a judge at Halle
and finally in Brussels
.
He wrote songs and poems in several newspapers and journals, of which several were put to music by Willem De Mol, such as Lentelied, Ik ken een lied, Droeve tijden, and Bethlehem. They were published in one volume in 1873. In 1874, he was awarded for a minnelied (E: romantic song) by the Antwerp Chamber of rhetoric
, De Olijftak (E: Olive branch). In addition he wrote Uit het hart, Liederen en gedichten (Dendermonde
and Leiden, 1875); Liederkrans uit de Loverkens van Hoffmann von Fallersleben, with his own music (Ghent
, 1877); Leven, lieven en zingen (Ghent
, 1879), Naar wijd en zijd (1905, put on music by François-Auguste Gevaert
). A now relatively unknown song of him is Mijn Vlaanderen heb ik hart'lijk lief, on lyrics by Theofiel Coopman. He was buried in Oudenaarde, where the Gentiel Antheunisplein is named after him.
Antheunis died in 1907 at Elsene.
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
poet. He was the son-in-law of Hendrik Conscience
Hendrik Conscience
Henri "Hendrik" Conscience was a Belgian writer. He was a pioneer in writing in Dutch after the secession from the Netherlands in 1830 left Belgium a mostly French speaking country....
, whose only daughter Maria he married in 1870. He was born in Oudenaarde
Oudenaarde
Oudenaarde is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Oudenaarde proper and the towns of Bevere, Edelare, Eine, Ename, Heurne, Leupegem, Mater, Melden, Mullem, Nederename, Welden, Volkegem and a part of Ooike.From the 15th to the 18th...
.
From 1859 until 1860, he was a teacher in the college of Oudenaarde and in 1861 he became a teacher in Dendermonde
Dendermonde
Dendermonde is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Dendermonde proper and the towns of Appels, Baasrode, Grembergen, Mespelare, Oudegem, Schoonaarde, and Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde...
. After his early career as a teacher he studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the University of Ghent, where he graduated in 1866. He became a judge on 1 January 1868 in Oostrozebeke
Oostrozebeke
Oostrozebeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises only the town of Oostrozebeke proper. On January 1, 2006 Oostrozebeke had a total population of 7,449. The total area is 16.62 km² which gives a population density of 448 inhabitants per...
, later in Torhout
Torhout
Torhout is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality only comprises the city of Torhout proper. On January 1, 2008 Torhout had a total population of 19,755...
, on 15 July 1877 he became a judge at Halle
Halle, Belgium
Halle , is a Belgian city and municipality in the district Halle-Vilvoorde of the province Flemish Brabant. The city is located on the Brussels-Charleroi Canal and on the Flemish side of the language border that separates Flanders and Wallonia...
and finally in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
He wrote songs and poems in several newspapers and journals, of which several were put to music by Willem De Mol, such as Lentelied, Ik ken een lied, Droeve tijden, and Bethlehem. They were published in one volume in 1873. In 1874, he was awarded for a minnelied (E: romantic song) by the Antwerp Chamber of rhetoric
Chamber of rhetoric
Chambers of rhetoric were dramatic societies in the Low Countries. Their members are called Rederijkers , from the french word 'rhétoricien', and during the 15th and 16th centuries were mainly interested in dramas and lyrics...
, De Olijftak (E: Olive branch). In addition he wrote Uit het hart, Liederen en gedichten (Dendermonde
Dendermonde
Dendermonde is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Dendermonde proper and the towns of Appels, Baasrode, Grembergen, Mespelare, Oudegem, Schoonaarde, and Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde...
and Leiden, 1875); Liederkrans uit de Loverkens van Hoffmann von Fallersleben, with his own music (Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, 1877); Leven, lieven en zingen (Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, 1879), Naar wijd en zijd (1905, put on music by François-Auguste Gevaert
François-Auguste Gevaert
François-Auguste Gevaert was a Belgian composer.His father was a baker, and he was intended for the same profession, but better counsels prevailed and he was permitted to study music. He was sent in 1841 to the Ghent Conservatory, where he studied under Edouard de Sommere and Martin-Joseph Mengal...
). A now relatively unknown song of him is Mijn Vlaanderen heb ik hart'lijk lief, on lyrics by Theofiel Coopman. He was buried in Oudenaarde, where the Gentiel Antheunisplein is named after him.
Antheunis died in 1907 at Elsene.
Source
- 't Zijn droeve tijden als de oorlog woedt (Dutch)
- Gentil Theodoor Antheunis (Dutch)