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HESIUS, Willem - b. 1601 Antwerpen, d. 1690 Brussel - WGA

HESIUS, Willem

(b. 1601 Antwerpen, d. 1690 Brussel)

Willem Hesius (Willem van Hees), a Jesuit priest, was a Flemish architect. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1617. After completing his religious training, he began his career as a teacher, but he was especially noted as a distinguished Latin speaker and preacher. For twenty years he directed the Latin sodality of Brussels and obtained the post for preacher assigned to the court of Archduke Leopold.

He is known today as an architect. He built part of the buildings of the college of Ghent and some beautiful Baroque Jesuit churches including that of Leuven (1650-71). The high altar of St Rumbold’s Cathedral at Mechelen is also his work.

Exterior view
Exterior view by

Exterior view

Baroque ecclesiastical architecture of the later seventeenth century in Flanders retained its traditional features, particularly the use of cross- and rib-vaulted roofs and a structure with the emphasis on the vertical.

As was their tradition, the Jesuits continued to leave the building of their monastery churches to trained architects of their own order. Willem Hesius entered the order as a novice. His point of departure as an architect was the architecture initiated by Jacques Francart, with its vertically accentuated fa�ades, marked by slim proportions and a high projecting central element. This could be clearly seen in the fa�ade of the Jesuit church dedicated to St Michael in Leuven, which was begun in 1650. Building was delayed by structural problems in the 1660s, and the church was finally completed in 1671.

The outstanding feature of this building is the rich decoration of the fa�ade. The sculptural ornamentation is indeed elaborate, particularly in the top section.

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Exterior view
Exterior view by

Exterior view

Baroque ecclesiastical architecture of the later seventeenth century in Flanders retained its traditional features, particularly the use of cross- and rib-vaulted roofs and a structure with the emphasis on the vertical.

As was their tradition, the Jesuits continued to leave the building of their monastery churches to trained architects of their own order. Willem Hesius entered the order as a novice. His point of departure as an architect was the architecture initiated by Jacques Francart, with its vertically accentuated fa�ades, marked by slim proportions and a high projecting central element. This could be clearly seen in the fa�ade of the Jesuit church dedicated to St Michael in Leuven, which was begun in 1650. Building was delayed by structural problems in the 1660s, and the church was finally completed in 1671.

The outstanding feature of this building is the rich decoration of the fa�ade. The sculptural ornamentation is indeed elaborate, particularly in the top section.

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High Altar
High Altar by

High Altar

The High Altar in St Rumbold’s Cathedral in Mechelen was designed by Willem Hesius. The sculptural parts were executed by Lucas Faydherbe.

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