gaasbeek castle
Two hundred years ago marquis Paul Arconati passed away. He left behind a triumphal arch he built in honour of, and a snuff box he received from Napoleon Bonaparte. Also in 1821 Hector Berlioz decided to become a composer. The text below is from one of his masterpieces, ‘La Damnation de Faust’. And because Paul Arconati was our most Faustian lord, we dedicate these words to him.
Voici des roses, De cette nuit écloses. Sur ce lit embaumé, Ô mon Faust bien-aimé, Repose ! From: Hector Berlioz, ‘Voici des roses’, La Damnation de Faust, 1845
2021 Dear reader, We send you the roses Ben Sledsens designed for the new stained-glass window of the Baroque chapel in the castle park. Uniting old and new, connecting yesterday with today: it remains the cornerstone of our activities. Even now while the castle is closed. Behind its gates, it carefully sorts memories that span centuries. It will take the time it needs. For change, renewal, recovery and revival. So here are these roses. Keepers of a long sleep, but above all bearers of our hope and our faith that everything will be fine in the end. The Gaasbeek Castle team wishes you a year full of love and tenderness.
Cover: Ben Sledsens, design stained-glass window, 2020, courtesy Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp Published by Luc Vanackere, Gaasbeek Castle, Kasteelstraat 40, B-1750 Lennik (Gaasbeek)