Hendrik Franciscus Verbruggen: Sculptor of Sacred Spaces Hendrik Franciscus Verbruggen (1654-1724), a name perhaps less familiar than some of his Baroque contemporaries, stands as a pivotal figure in the sculptural landscape of 17th-century Flanders. Born into a family steeped in artistic tradition – his father, Pieter Verbrugghen I, was a prominent sculptor himself – Verbruggen inherited not just a legacy but also a deep understanding of form and technique that would shape his distinctive style. His life unfolded against the backdrop of religious upheaval and political transformation, influ…