Hendrik Frans Verbruggen

Adam and Eve expelled from Eden, detail of the pulpit in the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, Brussels, 1699

Hendrik Frans Verbrugghen or Hendrik Frans Verbruggen (30 April 1654 in Antwerp – 12 December 1724 in Antwerp) was a Flemish sculptor and draftsman, who is best known for his Baroque church furniture in various Belgian churches.

Life He was born into a family from which in the 17th and 18th century a number of prominent sculptors emerged who were mainly active in Antwerp. His father, the sculptor Pieter Verbrugghen I, was one of the principal representatives of Flemish high baroque sculpture. The father had been a pupil of Erasmus Quellinus I, who was himself the founder of a prominent family of artists. The father married the daughter of his master Erasmus Quellinus. From this marriage Hendrik Frans Verbruggen was born. His brother Pieter Verbrugghen II was also a sculptor and worked in the workshop of his father.

Hendrik Frans Verbruggen was trained by his father. It can not be ruled out that like his brother Pieter, he made a trip to Italy after completing his training. This trip has not been documented.

He became a master sculptor at the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke in 1682. That year he married Susanna Verhulst. He became dean of the Guild of Saint Luke in 1689. In 1713 he went bankrupt but this did not prevent him from completing ongoing commissions.

Many of his drawings have been preserved.

Selected works

1676: Epitaph for Bishop Capello, Antwerp Cathedral 1680: Confessionals in St. Catherina Church in Sinaai, Sint-Niklaas 1686: Altar rails in the Sacrament Chapel of the Antwerp Cathedral 1694: Western outer portal of the St. James' Church Church in Antwerp 1695: White marble altar rails in the St. Walburga in Bruges 1696: Pulpit, Cathedral of Brussels (originally in the St Michael Church in Leuven) 1697: Pulpit in the St Augustine Church in Antwerp 1700: Pulpit and altar rails in St Peter and Paul's Church in Mechelen 1705–1709: high altar in the Saint Bavo Cathedral in Ghent 1720: Saint Servatius Altar in the Basilica of Saint Servatius in Grimbergen (attributed)