Enclosed Garden showing Saint Elizabeth, Saint Ursula and Saint Catharine

A unique religious art form emerged in the Low Countries in the late Middle Ages: Enclosed Gardens. These are richly stocked retable cabinets depicting gardens of paradise. They are embellished with silk flowers, wooden sculptures, medallions, relics and inscriptions. Just looking at them, you can lose yourself in thought. The Enclosed Garden showing Saint Elizabeth, Saint Ursula and Saint Catharine is part of Mechelen’s unique collection of Enclosed Gardens. Nowhere else in the world is there a collection as large as this to be seen.

Enclosed Garden showing Three Saints

This Enclosed Garden is one of the finest and best-preserved examples of these little viewing cabinets from the sixteenth century. Three female saints adorn this retable cabinet. We see Saint Elizabeth with her crown and book, and a beggar at her feet. In the centre stands Saint Ursula protecting the eleven thousand virgins while holding the three arrows that killed her. Lastly, there is Saint Catherine holding the golden sword in her hands.

The figures are fine examples of the poupées de Malines or Mechelen dolls. Between the three prominent figures we see Mary Magdalen kneeling before the risen Christ. On the side panels a man and two women are depicted, each with their patron saint. A recent study has revealed that they are Jacob Van den Putte, Margareta Svos and their daughter Maria Van den Putte. Maria joined the Sisters Hospitalliers in 1524, and this may be why this Enclosed Garden was made.

Unique Collection of Enclosed Gardens

Museum Hof van Busleyden is showing a unique collection of seven Enclosed Gardens. They have gained special recognition as Flemish Masterpieces. They are:

• Enclosed Garden showing the Saints Elizabeth, Ursula and Catherine
• Enclosed Garden showing the Madonna
• Enclosed Garden showing Calvary
• Enclosed Garden showing Calvary, the Virgin and John the Evangelist
• Enclosed Garden showing H. Augustinus, Anna te Drieën and Mary and Child
• Enclosed Garden showing Calvary and Unicorn Hunt
• Enclosed Garden showing Daniel in the Lions’ Den

Read More

• In 2018, the book "The Enclosed Gardens of Mechelen - Late Medieval Paradise Gardens Unveiled" was published. As a reader, you come face to face with the splendid details of these beautiful Gardens. The book provides knowledge of the materials, visual language and mystique of these unique viewing cabinets. It gives a comprehensive overview of years of international academic research.
• Lieve Watteeuw & Hannah Iterbeke (red.), De Besloten Hofjes van Mechelen – Laatmiddeleeuwse paradijstuinen ontrafeld. 2018