The Goudbloem (marigold) was a

chamber of rhetoric Chambers of rhetoric ( nl, rederijkerskamers) were dramatic societies in the Low Countries. Their members were called Rederijkers (singular Rederijker), from the French word 'rhétoricien', and during the 15th and 16th centuries were mainly inte ...

, a society to promote poetry and drama, that dated back to the 15th century in

Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,

.A. A. Keersmaekers, ''Geschiedenis van de Antwerpse Rederijkerskamers in de jaren 1585–1635'' (Aalst, 1952) It was one of three drama guilds in the city, the other two being the ''

Violieren The Violieren (wallflower or gillyflower) was a chamber of rhetoric that dates back to the 15th century in Antwerp, when it was a social drama society with close links to the Guild of Saint Luke.A. A. Keersmaekers, ''Geschiedenis van de Antwerpse R ...

'' and the ''

Olyftack De Olijftak (The Olive Branch), or in full (Confraternity of the Holy Spirit called the Olive Branch) was a chamber of rhetoric that dates back to the early 16th century in Antwerp, when it was a social drama society drawing its membership primari ...

''. It ceased to exist around 1654. The Violieren and Olyftack merged in 1660, and survived until 1762.

History

The Goudbloem had particular links to the urban aristocracy (patricians) and officeholders, while the Violieren was associated with artists and intellectuals (and had ties to the

Guild of St Luke The Guild of Saint Luke was the most common name for a city guild for painters and other artists in early modern Europe, especially in the Low Countries. They were named in honor of the Evangelist Luke, the patron saint of artists, who was identi ...

) and the Olyftack primarily consisted of merchants and tradesmen. The earliest mention of the society is of a performance in 1490, after which the city magistrates granted the chamber an annual subsidy of £3 Brabant (the same amount received by the Violieren). The chamber competed in the ''Landjuweel'' (a rhetoric competition open to contenders from throughout the

Duchy of Brabant The Duchy of Brabant was a State of the Holy Roman Empire established in 1183. It developed from the Landgraviate of Brabant and formed the heart of the historic Low Countries, part of the Burgundian Netherlands from 1430 and of the Habsburg Neth ...

) in Mechelen in 1515, in Diest in 1521, in Brussels in 1532, in Mechelen in 1535, in Diest in 1541 and in Antwerp (hosted by the Violieren) in 1561. Of the three Antwerp chambers it was the one most closely associated with Protestant sympathies, and it took the longest to recover from the neglect and suppressions that followed the

Fall of Antwerp The Fall of Antwerp on 17 August 1585 took place during the Eighty Years' War, after a siege lasting over a year from July 1584 until August 1585. The city of Antwerp was the focal point of the Protestant-dominated Dutch Revolt, but was force ...

in 1585. The chamber was officially reinstituted in 1616, and took part in the rhetoric competition hosted by the

Peoene The Peoene (Peony), also known as the Sint-Jansgilde (Guild of St John), was a chamber of rhetoric dating back to the 15th century in Mechelen. History The oldest mention of the Peoene is in a city accounts book from 1472. The guild took part in ' ...

(Peony) in

Mechelen Mechelen (; french: Malines ; traditional English name: MechlinMechelen has been known in English as ''Mechlin'', from where the adjective ''Mechlinian'' is derived. This name may still be used, especially in a traditional or historical contex ...

on 3 May 1620, taking first prize for most triumphant decoration, second prize for most triumphant arrival through the streets, and third prize for best recitation. At the joyous reception in Antwerp of the new governor general,

Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand (also known as Don Fernando de Austria, Cardenal-Infante Fernando de España and as Ferdinand von Österreich; May 1609 or 1610 – 9 November 1641) was Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, Cardinal of the Holy Catholic ...

, in 1635, the Goudbloem put on a tableau vivant intended to demonstrate "that the hope of all the Low Countries rests upon the Prince Cardinal". The last recorded public performance was in 1649, and there are no records of the chamber's existence after 1654.Anne-Laure Van Bruaene
"De Goudbloem"
in ''Repertorium van rederijkerskamers in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden en Luik 1400-1650'' (digital publication, 2005). Accessed 25 Jan. 2015. PodiumAntwerpseLandjuweel1561

Organisation

The leading officers of the chamber were the ''hooftman'', a sort of honorary president, the ''prince'', and the dean (''deken''). The fee-paying members, or ''gildebroeders'', enjoyed not only freedom from militia duty but the same type of social provision that most guilds provided: attendance at the funerals of deceased members, the provision of wedding presents for members getting married, and collections to support sick or impoverished members.

References

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