(Ghent 1827–1873 Berlin)
Old Castle of the Cardinal of Granvelle (1517-1586) in Brussels, Chaussée de Louvain, verso old title and inscription, signed, dated Emile de Cauwer 1864, oil on panel, 25 x 20 cm, framed

The Belgian architectural and veduta painter Emile Pierre Joseph de Cauwer specialised in the depiction of historical buildings. He received his training in draftsmanship from his father, as did his brother Leopold, who became known as an animal painter.
The present lot offers a glimpse of the courtyard of Cardinal Granvelle’s castle. Although Cauwer focuses on the exact reproduction of the architectural features, the painting exudes liveliness through the pecking chickens in the foreground and the smoking chimney.
The castle was located in the center of Brussels near the Chausée de Louvain. The castle was built in the 16th century in the Renaissance style. The French Cardinal Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle had been a minister in the Spanish Netherlands since 1559 and was thus in the service of the Habsburgs who ruled there at the time. He had become bishop in Arras, northern France, at the early age of 23, after studying theology. Granvelle was considered an important art collector and left behind a considerable collection of manuscripts and prints. He took an interest in European politics early on and resided in his Brussels palace, shown here, from 1555. This was used as the seat of the Free University of Brussels from 1842-1928 after complete remodeling and was demolished in 1931. The Ravenstein Gallery is now located on this site.