Vote for our Enclosed Garden
Could we court you for a moment? And enticingly ask you to lend your voice to this Enclosed Garden? An ancient treasure crafted by diligent Beguines. With intricately carved figures, painted side panels, and handmade flowers from fabric and wire. Today, this miniature paradise shows signs of wear and tear. The devil looks worn down. The apple in Mary’s hand appears dull. The flowers seem withered. With your vote, we can restore this (Beguine) Garden to its heavenly beauty. In an eternal spring filled with color, shine, and detail.
Paradisiacal miniature world
The Enclosed Garden is a 16th-century artwork made from a mix of materials. This intriguing object resembles a puppet theater, featuring a miniature world that creates an illusion of a paradisiacal garden filled with detailed sculptures and ornaments. With its rich decorations and religious representations, the Garden reflects not only artistic craftsmanship but also the spirituality of its time.
At the center of the display is a statue of the crowned Virgin Mary against a blue background dotted with golden stars. She holds the Christ Child on her right arm, while in her left hand, she carries an apple that the Child reaches for. Below this scene, the expulsion of Adam and Eve from paradise is depicted. They are surrounded by an angel with a sword, a figure of Saint Agnes, Satan coiling around a tree, and Saint John with his chalice. The paradise garden is enclosed by a fence, with a wooden gate at the center. Atop the oak "puppet theater," there are battlements, as if the Garden were a medieval castle. It is closed off by two doors, painted with religious scenes: the resurrected Christ with the Descent into Hell, the Appearance to Mary Magdalene, the Ascension, and Pentecost.
picture by Sanne De Block
picture by Sanne De Block
An ancient museum treasure
The Garden was likely made in the Duchy of Brabant, in Mechelen, judging by the style of the figures. Enclosed Gardens primarily occupied a place in religious communities of women. This particular example comes from the Beguinage of Kortrijk. For a long time, it was believed that women created the Enclosed Gardens, but it’s likely that artisans were responsible for most of the components. For this piece, it seems that earlier artworks were even recycled: the painted side panels originated in Germany and are at least half a century older than the wooden figures in the Garden itself. Female religious figures may have crafted the numerous flowers made of fabric and wire, the carefully wrapped relics, the papers with text, and the ornaments with semi-precious stones. They also maintained and restored the Gardens themselves. The KMSKA acquired this Enclosed Garden in 1973, after it had been in private ownership for many years.
The restoration
The current state of the artwork is concerning, primarily due to a thick layer of dust. Removing this dust will not only make the piece look fresher, but it will also reveal hidden damage. Both the paint layers (polychromy) and the structure show signs of deterioration. Textile and metal components have faded and weakened. Additionally, the figures in the Garden have been moved, resulting in the loss of the original arrangement. There may even be human remains incorporated into the Garden, though this has yet to be confirmed. The restoration presents an opportunity to repair the work and to conduct further research into these hidden relics and the place of this Enclosed Garden in 16th-century art production.