PRISON AT LOUVAIN

WIENER, Jacques: Belgium, 1868, Bronze, 59 mm
Obv: Front view of prison    MAISON D'ARRET CELLULAIRE A LOUVAIN
Exergue: JULES BARA, MINISTRE DE LA JUSTICE. N. VERHEYEN, ADMINISTR DES PRISONS. J. J. ROUSSEAU, INSPECTR DES CONSTUCTS F. DERRE, ARCHIT.
Rev: Ground plan of prison    REGNE DE LEOPOLD II ROI DES BELGES
Exergue: 1866-1868
Signed: WIENER FEC.
Ref: Eidlitz 49/299;  van Hoydonck 225;  Reinecke 88; Bouhy 88; Ross M289; Weiss BW408

Louvain is a town in Belgium in the province of Brabant, of which it was the capital in the 14th century before the rise of Brussels. Its town hall is one of the richest examples of pointed Gothic architecture. It is also the site of the prison depicted on this medal. Francios Derre, the architect of this prison, was a sculptor as well as an architect. He specialized in the construction of prisons, designing those at Hasselt, Gand, Mons, and Termonde, in addition to this one at Louvain.

Other medals depicting Belgian prisons are the Prison at Tornay and the Prison at Neufchateau.

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