Memorial Grote Kerk
Location
Besides being a church, the Grote Kerk in Vianen is also the final resting place for at least 24 members of the Van Vianen and Van Brederode families. On top of the crypt is the tomb of Reinoud III van Brederode and his wife Philippote van der Marck. Although no names or inscriptions can be found on the tomb, the monument is believed to have been made in the 16th century by sculptor Colijn de Nole.
The grave monument is a unique monument. It is the only Dutch voo...
Besides being a church, the Grote Kerk in Vianen is also the final resting place for at least 24 members of the Van Vianen and Van Brederode families. On top of the crypt is the tomb of Reinoud III van Brederode and his wife Philippote van der Marck. Although no names or inscriptions can be found on the tomb, the monument is believed to have been made in the 16th century by sculptor Colijn de Nole.
The grave monument is a unique monument. It is the only Dutch example of a 'transi-grave' (derived from the Latin word transire, meaning to pass over). The monument consists of two layers: on the upper layer, Reinoud III of Brederode and his wife Philippote van der Marck lie side by side as just deceased: eyes closed, mouth slightly open, knees slightly raised and hands folded over each other in their laps. The lower cover plate depicts a body in a decomposed state. This transi represents the Momento Mori: remember to die. They are symbols of death and impermanence.
In the 19th century, the symbolism of the transi was not widely known. Many people found the image distasteful or even unethical. The Kronijk van het Historisch Genootschap, published in Utrecht in 1851 writes that 'the decomposed body is a literal representation of the corpse of François van Brederode after he drowns in a stream near Eindhoven in 1529'.
Read also Grote kerk Vianen, Statue Brederode, Kasteel Batestein and Amaliastein.