Saintenoy House - Stained Glass Window
Address Rue de l’Arbre Bénit, 123
City/Neighborhood Brussels, Ixelles
Style(s)
- Floral Art Nouveau
Original use
- Work of Art
Année 1897
Architect(s) and/or artist(s)
- Evaldre Raphael
- Privat-Livemont Henri
- Saintenoy Paul
Remarkable elements
- Stained glass
In the eclectic style of architect Paul Saintenoy's personal residence, one finds this magnificent Art Nouveau stained glass window created in 1897 by the then-very demanded glass artist Raphaël Evaldre, based on a design by Privat-Livemont, best known for his posters and sgraffito decorations.
The stained glass, directly inspired by a poster by the artist also dating from 1897 entitled "The Wave," decorated the vast Flemish Renaissance-style dining room.
The work was named "The Enigmatic Undine" and depicts an undine amidst the waves, with seaweed in her hair, rendered in a wide palette of pastel tones. The woman, her face in profile, appears serene amidst the somewhat menacing waves, while the sky, filling half the window, is calm, dotted with clouds and traversed by a seagull.
A second stained-glass window, also in the Art Nouveau style but not designed by Privat-Livemont, decorates the 17th-century style oak stairwell. There is no connection between these two styles.
The stained glass depicts a vegetal motif undulating in the wind, framed by abstract scrolls.
A signature of the glass artist Evaldre is visible in the blue section at the bottom left.
The building was listed in 1992 and has been owned by the Hungarian Catholic Mission since 1956.
The house can be visited during the open days organized annually by Explore Brussels.
IXE52 - Unless otherwise stated © www.admirable-artnouveau.be for all photos