The Four Evangelists
Upon entering the permanent exhibition, visitors are greeted by a wide variety of works from Cuypers’ workshops. This group of sculptures stands out among all these beautiful pieces.
The Four Evangelists are made of terracotta (ceramic) and are richly polychromed.
In 1850, the 23-year-old, recently graduated Pierre Cuypers was awarded the prestigious commission to restore the choir of the Munster Church in Roermond. He found a church that, according to Victor de Stuers, had been plastered “in the most deplorable manner.” Cuypers removed the layers of whitewash and the Neo-Baroque altars, had a new mural painted, and designed a new terracotta high altar.
Pierre Cuypers incorporated the faces of the people involved in this restoration into the sculptures: sculptor Leeuw is depicted as the evangelist Mark, painter Linssen as Luke, chaplain Boermans as John, and architect Cuypers himself as Matthew (from left to right in the photo). What a fitting way to honor these important men!
Starting in 1860, Cuypers began an extensive restoration. In 1901, he created a new high altar, and the sculptures were not returned to their original locations. The sculptures were added to the Cuypershuis collection on long-term loan from the Parish of St. Christopher in Roermond (Munsterkerk).
In the exhibition “800 Years of the Munsterkerk,” the story of Cuypers’ interior design in this church is illustrated, among other things, by a large image of the sculpture group.
