Heppeneert / Heppenardt

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Results: 9 records

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human figure - head

Scene Description: the former head from the ca. 1500 baptismal font now built into the side of the Duivelsbruggetje

Image Source: edited detail of a digital image [source N/A] provided by Pol Herman

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE – IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

view of church exterior - southeast view

Scene Description: Source caption: "Dilsen-Stokkem Kerkstraat 1 Parochiekerk Sint-Gertrudis Heppeneert"

Image Source: digital photograph 24 March 2018 by Geert Vynckier [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dilsen-Stokkem_Kerkstraat_1_Parochiekerk_Sint-Gertrudis_Heppeneert_-_281842_-_onroerenderfgoed.jpg] [accessed 12 Agust 2924]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-4.0

view of church interior - looking east

Scene Description: Source caption: "De Sint-Gertrudiskerk te Heppeneert, België - links van het koor het beeld van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Rust en rechts van de patroonheilige Gertrudis"

Image Source: digital photograph 14 August 2017 by Paul Hermans [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sint-Gertrudiskerk_(Heppeneert)_14-8-2017_10-29-32.JPG] [accessed 12 August 2024]

Copyright Instructions: GFDL / CC-BY-SA-4.0,3.0,2.5,2.0,1.0

view of context

Scene Description: the Duivelsbruggetje of the Card Knight legend [cf. FontNotes]

Image Source: digital photograph 3 May 2024 by Karel Hemerijckx [https://www.hbvl.be/cnt/dmf20220103_94087296] [accessed 12 Auigust 2024]

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE – IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

view of context

Image Source: digital image in info@heoppeneert.be [https://heppeneert.be/geschiedenis-van-heppeneert/] [accessed 12 August 2024]

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE – IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

view of context

Scene Description: the old cemetery slab with the card shields

Image Source: digital image in info@heoppeneert.be [https://heppeneert.be/geschiedenis-van-heppeneert/] [accessed 12 August 2024]

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE – IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

view of context

Scene Description: the old cemetery slab with the card shields

Image Source: digital image of a 1977 drawing [source N/A] provided by Pol Herman

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE – IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

view of font and cover in context

Scene Description: the modern font

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph 14 August 2017 by Paul Hermans [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sint-Gertrudiskerk_(Heppeneert)_14-8-2017_10-29-32.JPG] [accessed 12 August 2024]

Copyright Instructions: GFDL / CC-BY-SA-4.0,3.0,2.5,2.0,1.0

view of frament in context

Scene Description: built into the side of the Duivelsbruggetje

Image Source: digital image [source N/A] provided by Pol Herman

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE – IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

INFORMATION

FontID: 25651HEP

Church/Chapel: Sint-Gertrudiskerk Heppeneert

Church Patron Saints: St. Gertrude of Nivelles [aka Gertraud, Gertraudt, Gertrude, Gertrudis]

Church Location: Kerkstraat 1, Heppeneert, 3680 Maaseik, Belgium

Country Name: Belgium

Location: Limburg, Vlaanderen / Flandres

Directions to Site: Lcated in the municipality and 2-3 km S of Maaseik, on the W bank of the Meuse river, by the border with the Nederlands

Font Location in Church: [cf. FontNotes]

Date: ca. 1500?

Century and Period: 15th - 16th century, Late Gothic

Workshop/Group/Artisan: Mosan font?

Font Notes: Click to view font notes

A communication to BSI from Pol Herman (e-mail of 27 June 2024) reports a stone fragment, a human head from an octagonal Mosan limestone font dating probably from ca. 1500, that is now built into a very old bridge known locally as "Duivelsbruggetje", near the pilgrimage church of Heppeneert. The communication from PH further refers to the legend of a Heppeneert nobleman named Riddart lived in Borckhoff castle. After the untimely death of his wife, he became addicted to card games. He was bad at it, lost a lot of money, and had large debts. In desperation, he cast his lot with the devil. In order to enjoy life to the fullest for seven last years, he sold his soul to the devil and sealed this deal with a signature in his own blood. When the seven fat years were over, he invited all his friends and acquaintances to a great feast. At the end of the meal, the nobleman said goodbye to his friends and announced his predicament. Before he left with his horse, he was advised by his dining companions to recommend himself to Saint Gertrude and Saint John the Baptist. Having done this, he spurred his horse and rode to the place called “Sant”. Arriving at an old bridge, he saw the devil already waiting for him; with a great noise he shouted to the knight not to approach because there was a maiden on the back of the horse. When the nobleman looked back, he recognized Saint Gertrude and a moment later the devil had disappeared. Riddart then returned to his castle, lamenting loudly, and lived in strict austerity for several more years. After his death he was buried in the Heppeneert cemetery. The legend mentioning John the Baptist could be the reason why the head of a broken baptismal font was built into the Duivelsbruggetje." PH adds: "In the church of Heppeneert, a tomb slab is preserved that shows two coats of arms : with hearts and with diamonds. Historian J. Coenen mentioned in 1948 that these are the shields of the families "de Heppenart" and "van der Cappelen". But this is recent information that was unknown to older generations. This mysterious tomb slab gave rise to the ancient legend of the "card knight"."

COORDINATES

Church Latitude & Longitude Decimal: 51.07685, 5.79525

Church Latitude & Longitude DMS: 51° 4′ 36.66″ N, 5° 47′ 42.9″ E

UTM: 31U 695801 5662088

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone

Font Shape: fragment