Church of Our Lady

Vigor Boucquet was a successful Baroque painter who originated from nearby Veurne. He created this work in 1671 for the town hall in Nieuwpoort, where justice was still being dispensed by Aldermen at the time. It tells the story of a corrupt judge from ancient times who was punished for his conduct: he was flayed alive. Such an ‘allegory of justice’ acted as a warning to judges to ensure that they dispensed justice in a fair and dignified manner. Perhaps this work was paid for by a convict, as a form of monetary penalty.