
The six 18th-century canvases incorporated in the colourful panelling depict scenes from the Gospel (the Acts of the Apostles) and the life of Saint Bruno of Cologne who founded the Carthusian monastic order. The series of paintings starts with Saint Bruno’s refusal to accept the bishop’s mitre from the pope. The works were created by Brussels female artist Elisabeth Seldron, who also worked at the court of archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria in Brussels.
Sint-Martens-Lierde used to be the location of a Carthusian priory with church from 1329 onwards. Part of the priory’s 18th-century buildings are still preserved. The church was given a new lease of life in 1785 as the parish Church of St Martin and was refurbished several times, though the plans for enlarging the single-aisle building were never carried out. Much of the (rococo) furniture and many artworks in the church date from the 18th century.