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This presentation revolves around a mysterious detail of a 16th-century woodcarving from the vicinity of Maastricht.
The key depicted on Part of an apostle beam opens your eyes to St Servatius and his significance for Maastricht, the ‘heiligdomsvaart’ (religious procession) and the region’s history and art history.
Symbolic key
For centuries, keys have had a special meaning for people. The everyday tool may be a symbol of gaining access to riches, love or a home. You can protect everything that is dear to you with a lock, but the key also has the symbolic power to crack secrets and solve enigmas.
Maastricht area, Part of an apostle beam depicting St. Peter and John, ca. 1480-1520, oak. Height x Width x Depth: 32.5 x 90.5 x 15 cm. Collection Bonnefanten. Photo Peter Cox.
A key in the Bonnefanten
At first sight, a Part of an apostle beam is nothing very special. Of course it’s a special 16th-century woodcarving that still shows amazing detail here and there. But your gaze will also soon settle on big cracks in the wood, and you’ll notice that the object is incomplete. But there’s one small detail, the key held by the apostle Peter, which is inextricably linked to the city of Maastricht, the region and the ‘heiligdomsvaart’ (religious procession).
Key to the region
Apostle beams were not seen in important churches in cities, but in places of worship in the surrounding villages. The beam was placed between the pillars that separated the choir and the nave, and showed the twelve apostles with Christ himself in the middle. It was not the high-quality art made for bishops or dignitaries, but art for village churches and their congregations. These 16th-century apostle beams are a typical feature of the Maas-Rhine region. What can the mysterious small detail of St Peter’s key in Part of an apostle beam tell us about the churches where these apostle beams once hung?
Southern Netherlands, Window depicting HH. Servatius and Leonardus with founder, 1500-1600, stained glass. Width x Height: 25.5 x 24.5 cm. Limburgs Museum, Venlo on loan from Limburgs Geschied- en Oudheidkundig Genootschap. Photo: Limburgs Museum, Venlo.
The power of the key
The significance of this small, yet important detail is explored in this focus presentation. You will go past both regional and international items on loan, which look at the symbolic nature of the key, illustrate the impact of St Servatius on the region and explain how the Chapter of Saint Servatius expanded the power they had gained.
Header: Maastricht area, Part of an apostle beam depicting St. Peter and John (detail), ca. 1480-1520, oak. Height x Width x Depth: 32.5 x 90.5 x 15 cm. Collection Bonnefanten. Photo Peter Cox.