Cathedral of Our Lady

Cathedral of the Virgin Mary
(Onze Lieve Vrouwe Cathedral)

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the largest gothic structure of this type in Belgium (118 m long, 53,50 m wide, 40 m high). Work on its construction lasted several hundred years (1352-1584) and was never completed according to the original assumptions, as evidenced by one of the unfinished towers.

This one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Belgium was largely built by John and Peter Appelmans in the mid-sixteenth century. Its 125-meter tower dominates the landscape of Antwerp.

Particularly impressive is the interior of the church-7 naves supported by 125 columns, 128 windows (55 stained glass windows), north tower and south tower, octagonal lantern at the intersection of naves and transept, choir, ambit and 11 chapels-the numbers give an idea of how powerful this building is.

In the place where the cathedral stands today there was a small chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which in the year 1124 became a parish church. In the twelfth century it was replaced by a larger Romanesque church. In his place in 1352 the construction of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary began. The newly built church, which was to become the largest temple in the Netherlands, was to have two towers of equal height from the beginning. In 1521 year, after 170 years of construction, the church was completed. In 1533 the church was damaged by fire. The whole effort was put into his reconstruction and plans to expand the second tower, which only reached half of its height, were abandoned. In 1559 the church became the main church of the Antwerp bishopric and received the title of the cathedral. He lost it in 1801-1961, when the bishopric was liquidated.

The fire from the 1533 year, the iconoclast attack of 1566, and the fact that in the year 1581 the church passed under the administration of the Protestants caused that no element of the medieval interior of the temple survived.

In the 1794 year, during the French Revolution, the church was again plundered and destroyed. The French authorities, in the year 1798, wanted to demolish of this magnificent building. Fortunately, the occupation did not last long and already in 1816 a year looted treasures began to return to the temple. The contemporary interior is a Baroque style. There are countless excellent sculptures and paintings in the church. All of them, however, remain in the shadow of Rubens' excellent works.

The interior of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary impresses with a multitude of sacral artworks, headed by the paintings of Peter Paul Rubens. You can also admire beautiful stained glass windows, a monumental pulpit and magnificent stalls.

Peter Paul Rubens Raising the cross

The artist painted this wonderful work in 1609-1610. Until 1794 year this huge picture (460 × 340 cm), side panels (460 × 150 cm), was part of the altar of the church of St. Walburga, which was destroyed. The triptych was stolen by the French. It was only after their defeat that the triptych returned to Antwerp in 1815. From the year 1816 it has a central place in the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary.

Large sizes allowed Rubens to create an unlimited framework of dynamic composition. A work was created in the traditional Flemish style, but with elements of Baroque art. It was the impact of Rubens's eight-year stay in Italy.

The middle, very expressive panel depicts nine men carrying the cross with Christ, in a diagonal position. Side panels complete the whole scene. On the left, Mary and Apostle John are standing at the top. Mary's face shows no suffering or fear, rather reverie. The scene at the bottom of the left wing depicts a woman nursing a small child. She seems terrified by the whole situation.

After the closure, the triptych shows the figures of four saints associated with the church of St. Walburga. On the left side are Saint Amand and Saint Walburga, and on the right you can see Saint Catherine and Saint Eligius.

Peter Paul Rubens Descent from the cross

A triptych painted by Rubens on his return from Italy. It was created in the years 1611-1614. It is also like a triptych Raising the cross monumental work. The center panel has dimensions 421 × 311 cm, side panels 421 × 153 cm. The painting is characterized by an unrealistic calm and touching realism taken over from Caravaggio.

In the center of the picture is the dazzling white, tormented body of Christ, surrounded by mourners and figures trying to take them off gently. Christ's foot rests on the shoulder of Mary Magdalene, who wipes her with her hair. The body of Jesus is wrapped in a white shroud.

The left panel presents Mary and the blessed Elisabeth who will give birth to John the Baptist. Both women are in the presence of the husbands of Joseph and Zechariah.

In the right panel, Mary hands the little Jesus to the high priest Simon. Before Simon Joseph is kneeling, holding two sacrificial pigeons in his hands.

Triptych after the closing on the left presents the legend of Saint Christopher. The right panel depicts a hermit who shows him the way through the dark.

Rubens's triptych Resurrection it was created in the years 1611-1612. It was intended for the tomb of a friend of the artist, the printer John Morteus. It shows a haughty, triumphant Christ carrying a red, flapping banner. Christ was raised from his rocky grave. Such a representation of the tomb of Jesus was a novelty, because up to now, the practice of presenting the tomb of Christ as a sarcophagus prevailed in art. On the side panels, Rubens portrayed Saint John the Baptist and Saint Martina. Saint John stands at the banks of the Jordan, the sword lying on the ground symbolizes his beheading. Saint holds a palm branch in her hand as a sign of her martyrdom. On the outer panels beautiful angels are shown. They stand with their backs to double doors that seem to be open. Is this the door to eternal life ?.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary it is Rubens's fourth work located in the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Antwerp. This an impressive oil work (490 × 325 cm) decorates the main altar. It is dedicated to the patron of the church. The painting depicts Mary, carried by angels, whose eyes are turned towards the sky expectantly. At the top, two angels try to crown her with a crown of roses. Below next to the abandoned grave figures of the twelve Apostles and three women who were at the death of Mary.

Gallery from inside the cathedral