The First Governess of the Netherlands, Margaret of AustriaTremayne, Eleanor E.
History
The First Governess of the Netherlands, Margaret of Austria
Tremayne, Eleanor E.
Margaret, of Austria, Regent of the Netherlands, 1480-1530; Netherlands -- History -- Charles V, 1506-1555
On the pavement round Margaret's tomb a few of the enamelled tiles may
still be seen with which formerly the entire chapel and choir were
paved. Behind the princess's chapel is her private oratory, which was
divided into two stories, with a fireplace above and below. From her
apartments in the monastery she could enter the church by a passage
across the screen and a hidden staircase, and thus hear mass and see
the elevation of the Host on both altars, without being seen by those
who attended the services in the church. All these details had been
carefully thought out by the architect, as a letter to Margaret from
her secretary, Louis Barangier, shows. In November 1512 he wrote to
her from Brou: 'As to your chapels, madame,... he (Van Boghen) will
make them opposite this building (the monastery), and intends to
construct one which will be a real work of art, for you will be able
to descend from above the screen... into your chapel, from which you
will see the high altar over your tomb.' Margaret had also intended to
build a similar oratory in the prince's chapel, but the executors of
her will omitted to carry out this wish, and the chapel was never
finished, and is now the sacristy.
Beyond Margaret's oratory is the chapel of her Councillor, Laurent de
Gorrevod, Governor of Bresse, which is dedicated to Our Lady of Pity.
It contains the tombs of Laurent de Gorrevod and his two wives,
Philiberte de la Palud, and Claude de Rivoire, and several members of
their family. The beautiful recumbent bronze figures of Gorrevod and
his wives were destroyed at the revolution, and only the slab on
which the statues rested remains, with the founder's motto--_Pour
jamés (jamais)_, and the initials L. F. and L. C. (the letters of his
and his wives' names) joined by the girdle of St. Francis.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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