Family Scene at the Time of the Catholic League (1609)

Victor Lagye was a close friend of Henri Leys. He shared his views on historical painting, which advocated the portrayal of historical reality as truthfully as possible. In this scene, which is set in a medieval interior, we see a small version of Rogier van der Weyden’s Lamentation on the mantelpiece and a Flight to Egypt painted in the style…

Victor Lagye was a close friend of Henri Leys. He shared his views on historical painting, which advocated the portrayal of historical reality as truthfully as possible. In this scene, which is set in a medieval interior, we see a small version of Rogier van der Weyden’s Lamentation on the mantelpiece and a Flight to Egypt painted in the style of the Flemish Primitives on the cradle. This is Lagye’s way of telling us that this is a Catholic family. The Calvinistic Republic of Ghent came to an end in 1584. Catholic traditions, which had been popular before the troubles of 1577, now dominated once more.