Portrait of Arnikius from Diest

This painting by Pieter Stramot portrays Arnikius. This son of Arnold I, lord of Diest, is said to have taken part in the third crusade to Palestine. Arnikius is a seventeenthcentury creation of prelate Vaes from Averbode. The Norbertines needed saints and so created fictitious hagiographies. Arnikius is based on a medieval chronicle which refers to a certain Amicus. Amicus became Arnikius. Pieter Stramot was a painter and stained-glass artist from Diest. He was also alderman of the town for some time.