Jacques Jonghelinck
Encyclopedia
Jacques Jonghelinck was a Flemish sculptor and medallist working in Brussels
in the Mannerist
style common to the Catholic courts of Western Europe.
He moved from Antwerp to set up a workshop in Brussels
in 1562 and was appointed court sculptor the following year.
In Brussels he specialized in funeral monuments for an aristocratic clientele and was also a successful merchant, and financier. He belonged to the immediate entourage of the diplomat Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle
, president of the council of state from 1556 to 1564.
Jonghelinck was a major patron of Pieter Brueghel
whose pictures he kept “in his house located at ter Beken”. They included “sixteen items by Bruegel including the tower of Babylon, a Bearing of the Cross, the Twelve Months...”.
He collaborated as sculptor and bronze-founder with the sculptor Joos Aerts in the gilt-bronze and black marble memorial of Charles the Bold
(died 1477) in the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk
("Church of Our Lady") (Bruges
), completed in 1563.
Letters between de Granvelle
, now in Madrid
, and his secretary Morillon in Brussels show that Jonghelinck, now as medallist, made a mould for a small medal in the spring of 1566. Successively he cast medals in lead, tin, copper, silver or gold of the type known as Geuzen medals
.
One of his masterworks, a full-length, over-lifesize bronze of Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba - made in 1569 from the gunmetal of the 16 cannon captured at Jemmingen and erected in the citadel of Antwerp - was destroyed after the death of Alba on orders of king Philip II
. The statue - even in Italy and Madrid - was thought to be too pompous and to exhibit unnecessary cruelty. It is a coincidence that Jonghelinck at that moment already had returned to Antwerp, where he was "waardijn" (director) of the mint.
His bronze of Silenus astride a Cask, 1570, is the figure for a fountain in the gardens of the Aranjuez
; it replaced Giambologna
's Samson and a Philistine, which had been given to Charles, Prince of Wales
in 1623, on the ill-fated diplomatic mission over the "Spanish Match
".
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in the Mannerist
Mannerism
Mannerism is a period of European art that emerged from the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520. It lasted until about 1580 in Italy, when a more Baroque style began to replace it, but Northern Mannerism continued into the early 17th century throughout much of Europe...
style common to the Catholic courts of Western Europe.
He moved from Antwerp to set up a workshop 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...
in 1562 and was appointed court sculptor the following year.
In Brussels he specialized in funeral monuments for an aristocratic clientele and was also a successful merchant, and financier. He belonged to the immediate entourage of the diplomat Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle
Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle
Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle , Comte de La Baume Saint Amour, was a Burgundian statesman, made a cardinal, who followed his father as a leading minister of the Spanish Habsburgs, and was one of the most influential European politicians during the time which immediately followed the appearance of...
, president of the council of state from 1556 to 1564.
Jonghelinck was a major patron of Pieter Brueghel
Pieter Brueghel
Pieter Brueghel may refer to:* Pieter Brueghel the Elder , painter* Pieter Brueghel the Younger , son of the above, a painter and copyist, also known as "Hell Brueghel"...
whose pictures he kept “in his house located at ter Beken”. They included “sixteen items by Bruegel including the tower of Babylon, a Bearing of the Cross, the Twelve Months...”.
He collaborated as sculptor and bronze-founder with the sculptor Joos Aerts in the gilt-bronze and black marble memorial of Charles the Bold
Charles I, Duke of Burgundy
Charles the Bold , baptised Charles Martin, was Duke of Burgundy from 1467 to 1477...
(died 1477) in the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk
Church of Our Lady, Bruges
The Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium, dates mainly from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries.Its tower, at 122.3 meters in height, remains the tallest structure in the city and the second tallest brickwork tower in the world The Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium, dates mainly from the 13th,...
("Church of Our Lady") (Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
), completed in 1563.
Letters between de Granvelle
Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle
Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle , Comte de La Baume Saint Amour, was a Burgundian statesman, made a cardinal, who followed his father as a leading minister of the Spanish Habsburgs, and was one of the most influential European politicians during the time which immediately followed the appearance of...
, now in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, and his secretary Morillon in Brussels show that Jonghelinck, now as medallist, made a mould for a small medal in the spring of 1566. Successively he cast medals in lead, tin, copper, silver or gold of the type known as Geuzen medals
Geuzen medals
Geuzen medals or Beggar’s medals Geuzen medals or Beggar’s medals Geuzen medals or Beggar’s medals (also Sea Beggars medals were coined during the early days of the Dutch Revolt and the first half of the Eighty Years' War in the 16th century. During that period, a lot of medals, tokens and jetons...
.
One of his masterworks, a full-length, over-lifesize bronze of Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba - made in 1569 from the gunmetal of the 16 cannon captured at Jemmingen and erected in the citadel of Antwerp - was destroyed after the death of Alba on orders of king Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
. The statue - even in Italy and Madrid - was thought to be too pompous and to exhibit unnecessary cruelty. It is a coincidence that Jonghelinck at that moment already had returned to Antwerp, where he was "waardijn" (director) of the mint.
His bronze of Silenus astride a Cask, 1570, is the figure for a fountain in the gardens of the Aranjuez
Palacio Real de Aranjuez
The Royal Palace of Aranjuez is a residence of the King of Spain, located in the town of Aranjuez, Community of Madrid, Spain. The palace is open to the public as one of the Spanish royal sites....
; it replaced Giambologna
Giambologna
Giambologna, born as Jean Boulogne, incorrectly known as Giovanni da Bologna and Giovanni Bologna , was a sculptor, known for his marble and bronze statuary in a late Renaissance or Mannerist style.- Biography :...
's Samson and a Philistine, which had been given to Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in 1623, on the ill-fated diplomatic mission over the "Spanish Match
Spanish Match
The Spanish Match was a proposed marriage between Prince Charles, the son of King James I of England, and Infanta Maria Anna of Spain, the daughter of Philip III of Spain...
".