Lodewijk van Boghem, Entrepreneur, Land Surveyor, and Architect

Abstract

When in 1512 Lodewijk Van Boghem was appointed master mason of Saint Nicolas de Tolentino at Brou, he was celebrated as one of the best masters in the Low Countries. However, his engagement at Margaret of Austria’s most prestigious building programme is somewhat surprising, as no prior buildings designed or built by him are known today. This paper will consider the knowledge and experience that made Van Boghem well suited for the job by examining his education and career in the Brussels’ milieu of stone merchants. Hitherto, such ties with the stone trade are usually thought to reflect the master mason’s low status as craftsman. However, this contribution will question this art historical cliché by regarding the social stratification among stonemasons. Leading stone merchants were certainly not humble master craftsmen; instead, they ranked among the more affluent entrepreneurs and merchants of their time. As one of the most successful stone merchants of Brussels, Van Boghem fashioned himself as a cultured person who moved easily in court circles.