성가대석(Choir-stall). Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal Antwerpen(성모마리아 대성당). 안트웨르펜(Antwerpen)

성가대석(Choir-stall).

Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal Antwerpen

(Cathedral Of Our Lady. 성모마리아 대성당).

안트웨르펜(Antwerpen). 벨기에(Belgium)

François Durlet
It will come as no surprise that the nineteenth-century neogothic choir-stall of the Our Lady’s Cathedral was designed by an architect, because it has a lot in common with a cathedral. With two oak cathedrals, actually, placed opposite one another, each with a central tower and 36 seats. The architect in question was named François Durlet (1816-1867). He was only 23 years old when his design, submitted on the occasion of a competition, took the prize. That design marked the beginning of a far-reaching neogothic refurnishing and redecoration of the Cathedral, which was only completed at the beginning of the twentieth century and behind which Durlet was the directing and driving force until his death. The completion of this monumental choir-stall took more than forty years, from 1840 to 1883. A whole series of well-known sculptors worked on its countless decorative and figurative parts. Of particular note are the 36 episodes from the life of Our Lady, depicted in high relief. A number of free-standing sculptures also belong to the choir-stall, which is used by the canons of the Cathedral. They depict, among other things, saints, angels, apostles, prophets and symbolic figures. For security reasons, most of these statues are not on display.

---