E. Van Ophem

This room is located on the first floor of the Infirmary building. In view of our buildings’ authentic character, we do not have a lift.

A little history

This room is named after Elisabeth van Ophem. She was of noble origin and lived in the Beguinage, where she died on 29 April 1656; she was buried at the Church of St John the Baptist. During the French Revolution, however, the coat of arms on her gravestone was removed, making precise identification difficult.

St Joseph with the infant Jesus

In the Salon Swerius, through which the Van Ophem Room is reached, hangs a portrait of St Joseph as a young man with the infant Jesus in swaddling clothes. This is an eighteenth-century painting from the Grand Beguinage. Joseph is depicted as foster father and as bridegroom of Mary. The dove refers to the Holy Spirit and to Joseph’s chastity. Joseph is holding a lily, a symbol of chastity as well as a reference to the flowering staff. The staff appears in a legend recounting how Mary acquired her husband. When she was ready for marriage, a suitable husband had to be found for her. Various suitors came forward. The high priest had them all plant their walking stick in the ground in order to leave the choice to God. When Joseph’s staff began to flower, he was chosen as Mary’s husband-to-be.

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