BELGIUM ~ Tomb of Archbishop André Cruesen - Mechelen ~

... Beautiful view of the funeral monument of Archbishop Andrew Cruesen at the Cathedral of st. Rumbold... created by Lucas Faydherbe, he produced his most important work with this funerary monument in marble... as a sculptor, ivory-maker, and architect, he was the only leading sculptor of his generation who never went to Italy and worked closely with Rubens, hence his pictorial and theatrical style... with another newest released stamp by Bpost🙂...  "Diversity is a fact"... inclusion is a choice that bpost fiercely defends... with this in mind, bpost wanted to pay tribute to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was signed by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948... the focus is on article 1: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights."... with great first day postmark and signed by the designer👍...  Héééél Erg Bedankt Johan! (✿◠‿◠)

Mechelen is a historically important city located on the river Dijle in the center of Flanders.

This tombstone consists of several sculptures. On the right side is the sculpture of Christ, a beautiful statue, which style directly refers to the style of Rubens. On the left a statue depicting Chronos, in Greek mythology God of time. It is a kind of reference to death, something that has passed away. In the center, the sculpture of Archbishop Andrew Creusen. The author presented him in a kneeling position between an allegorical statue of the resurrection, in the form of Christ, which is to herald a new life after death, and Chronos, the God of time. Time of earthly life, which has already passed for the archbishop. 

Creusen was born in Maastricht and studied at the Latin school and the Jesuit college of his native town, before further studies in Rome. In 1640 he was appointed archdeacon of Brabant and in 1651 bishop of Roermond. In 1657 he was appointed to the see of Mechelen. Archbishop Andrew Cruesen was the fifth Archbishop of Mechelen, who died in Brussels in 1666. 

Stamp:

75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

(Issued 20-03-2023)