Cathedral of the Virgin Mary (Onze Lieve Vrouwe Cathedral) |
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It is the largest Gothic structure of this type in Belgium (118 m long, 53,50 m wide, 40 m high). Works on its construction lasted several hundred years (1352-1584) and were never completed according to the original assumptions, as evidenced by one of the unfinished towers. One of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Belgium, it was mostly built by John and Peter Appelmans in the mid-16th century. Its 125-meter high tower towers over the entire landscape of Antwerp.
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Particularly impressive is the interior of the church-7 naves supported on 125 columns, 128 windows (55 stained glass), north tower and south tower, octagonal lantern at the intersection of the nave and transepts, choir, ambulatory and 11 chapels-these numbers give you an idea of how powerful this structure is. In the place where the cathedral stands today, there was a small chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which in 1124 became a parish church. In the 12th century it was replaced by a larger Romanesque church. In its place, in the year 1352, the construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady 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, after 170 years of construction, the church was completed.
In 1533 the church was damaged by a fire. All effort went into rebuilding it, and plans to expand the second tower, which had only reached half its height, were abandoned. In 1559 the church became the main church of the bishopric of Antwerp and was awarded the title of cathedral. He lost it in years 1801-1961, when the bishopric was liquidated.
A fire in 1533, an attack by iconoclasts in 1566, and the fact that in 1581 the church came under Protestant administration, no element of the medieval interior of the temple survived.
A fire in 1533, an attack by iconoclasts in 1566, and the fact that in 1581 the church came under Protestant administration, no element of the medieval interior of the temple survived.
In 1794, during the French Revolution, the church was plundered and destroyed again. The French authorities, in the year 1798, had the intention of demolishing this magnificent building. Fortunately, the occupation did not last long and in 1816 the stolen treasures began to return to the temple. The contemporary interior is baroque. There are countless wonderful sculptures and paintings in the church. All of them, however, are overshadowed by Rubens' excellent work.
Works of Rubens - treasures of sacred art
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.
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Peter Paul Rubens Raising the cross
The artist painted this wonderful work in the years 1609-1610. Up to 1794 this huge picture (460 × 340 cm), side panels (460 × 150 cm), was part of the altar in the church of St. Walburga, which was demolished. The triptych was stolen by the French. Only after their defeat in 1815 did he return to Antwerp. From the year 1816 it has a central place in the Cathedral of Our Lady.
Large sizes allowed Rubens to create a dynamic composition unlimited by frames. The work was created in the traditional Flemish style, but already with elements of Baroque art. It was the influence of Rubens' eight-year stay in Italy. The very expressive middle panel shows nine men carrying a cross with Christ in a diagonal position. Side panels complete the whole scene. At the top left are Mary and the Apostle John. There is no suffering or fear on Maria's face, but rather reverie. The scene at the bottom of the left wing shows a woman feeding a toddler. She seems horrified by the whole situation. After closing, the triptych shows the figures of four saints associated with the church of St. Walburga. On the left side are St. Amand and St. Walburga, and on the right you can see St. Catherine and St. Eligius. |
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Peter Paul Rubens Descent from the cross
Triptych painted by Rubens after his return from Italy. It was created in the years 1611-1614. This is also the case with the triptych Raising the cross monumental work. The middle panel is 421 × 311 cm, side panels 421 × 153 cm. The painting is characterized by calm and touching realism, uncharacteristic for this artist, adopted from Caravaggio.
In the center of the picture is the blindingly white, tormented body of Christ, surrounded by mourners and figures trying to gently take them off. Christ's foot rests on the shoulder of Mary Magdalene, who is rubbing it with her hair. Jesus' body is wrapped in a white shroud. The left panel shows Mary and the blessed Elizabeth who will give birth to John the Baptist. Both women are in the presence of the husbands of Joseph and Zechariah. On the right panel, Mary hands over little Jesus to the high priest, Simon. Joseph is kneeling in front of Simon, holding two sacrificial doves in his hands. The triptych, closed on the left, presents the legend of St. Christopher. The right panel shows the hermit who shows him the way in the dark with his lamp. |
Rubens Triptych Resurrection was created in the years 1611-1612. It was intended for the tomb of the artist's friend, the printer Jan Morteus. It shows a haughty, triumphant Christ, carrying a red, fluttering banner. Christ rose from a rocky grave. Such a representation of the tomb of Jesus was a novelty, because until now it was a practice in art to present the tomb of Christ as a sarcophagus. On the side panels, Rubens portrayed St. John the Baptist and St. Martyna. Saint John stands on the bank of the Jordan, the sword lying on the ground symbolizes its beheading. The saint holds a palm branch in her hand as a sign of her martyrdom. Beautiful angels are shown on the external panels. They are with their backs to double doors that appear to be open. Is this the door to eternal life?
Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the fourth painting by Rubens in the Church of Our Lady in Antwerp. This is an impressive oil work (490 ×niebowstąpienie Najświętszej Marii Panny 325 cm) decorates the main altar. It is dedicated to the patron saint of the church. The painting shows Mary, being lifted by angels, whose eyes are turned expectantly towards heaven. At the top, two angels try to crown it with a crown of roses. Below, at the abandoned tomb, the figures of the twelve Apostles and three women who were present at Mary's death. 325 cm) zdobi ołtarz główny. Jest ono poświęcone patronce kościoła. Obraz przedstawia unoszoną przez aniołki Maryję, której oczy zwrócone są wyczekująco ku niebu. U góry dwa anioły próbują ukoronować ją koroną z róż. Poniżej przy porzuconym grobie postaci dwunastu Apostołów i trzech kobiet, które były obecne przy śmierci Maryi.
Interior of the Cathedral of Our Lady
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Address:
Cathedral Groenplaats 21, 2000 Antwerpen |
Opening hours:
monday to friday 10.00-17.00 saturday 10.00-15.00 sunday 13.00-17.00 |
Ticket price:
12 Euro |