The Digitalisation Project Castle Huis Bergh is the intellectual property of the Stichting Musick’s Monument. Ing Hans Meijer was responsible for the technical realisation; Dr Willem Kuiper for the scholarly input. Thanks are also due to the Anjer Cultuurfonds Gelderland; the Stichting de Verenigde Stichtingen “De Armenkorf” in Terborg and “Het Gasthuis te Silvolde”; Mrs P. Tijdink-Hermsen; Mrs L.J.C. Meijer-Kroonder; and the Giese family.
Panel
Rhine master Germany St Gertrude (626-659)
1450-1500 Daughter of Pepijn II of Landen.
Abbess of the monastery which she founded in Nijvel, which followed the rule of St Benedict. A rat or mouse in her hand, she was invoked by farmers as saint protector against rodents.
Gertrude was born in 626, the daughter of Pepijn the Elder and Saint Ida. She became a nun in the convent of Nijvel, founded by her mother.
When Ida died, Gertrude was elected abbess. She is said to have combined studiousness with the ability to expel rats, which is why the artist of this panel has portrayed her holding a book in one hand and a rat in the other. She is clothed in traditional Benedictine black and white, a golden halo indicating her holiness. Because Gertrude was the founder of a pilgrims’ hostel, travellers adopted her as their patron saint. The flower in the foreground can be identified as a dandelion. Panels such as this one were usually executed in paint on a base of egg-yolk. This ’tempera’ technique gives a uniquely smooth, shiny quality to the painting.
Paneel
Rijns meester
Duitsland
H.Gertrudis (626-659)
1450-1500
Dochter van Pepijn II van Landen. Abdis van het door haar gestichte klooster te Nijvel dat de regel van S.Benedictus volgde. Een rat of muis in haar hand daar zij door de boeren wordt aangeroepen als beschermheilige tegen deze knaagdieren.
