Vigor Boucquet

[4] Boucquet received commissions to paint altarpieces for numerous churches and monasteries in the Westhoek region of Flanders which allowed him to make a good living.

Boucquet was a member of the exclusive Sint-Sebastiaansgilde (Guild of Saint Sebastian) of Veurne and of the Jansenist-inspired Sodaliteit van de Gekruisigde Zaligmaker (Brotherhood of the Crucified Savior).

Boucquet's works are found in various churches of the towns near Veurne, including in Nieuwpoort, Alveringem, Lo-Reninge, Ypres and Ostend.

Many of his religious paintings and portraits that were kept in public buildings were destroyed during the heavy battles waged in this part of Flanders during World War I.

This canvas, painted around 1663, was intended for the altar of the Broederschap der Overledene Zielen in het Vageveur (Brotherhood of the Dead Souls in Purgatory), which had just been founded by pastor Jacob de Wieu.

In the foreground, two angels are lifting two female figures out of the pool of fire showing how Christ's sacrificed blood saves the souls.

The Latin words "de albaverunt eas in sanguine agni" (They cleaned their souls in the blood of the lamb) are written on side of the elevation on which Christ is standing.

The work was commissioned by the Sint-Sebastiaans hand bow guild of Veurne for the Saint Sebastian altar in this Church.

[11] The painting is inspired by the story of the judgment of Cambyses as recounted by the Greek historian Herodotus in book V of the Histories written in 430 BC.

According to Herodotus, when Cambyses learned that the royal judge Sisamnes had accepted a bribe, he had him promptly arrested and sentenced him to be flayed alive.

The story of the corrupt Sisamnes inspired various Northern painters, including Gerard David, Antoon Claeissens, Claes Jacobsz van der Heck, Martin Hermann Faber, Joachim Wtewael and Rubens.