Church of Our Lady
![The Madonna of Bruges is a marble sculpture by Michelangelo of Mary with the Child Jesus.
Michelangelo's depiction of the Madonna and Child differs significantly from earlier representations of the same subject, which tended to feature a pious Virgin smiling down on an infant held in her arms. Instead, Jesus stands upright, almost unsupported, only loosely restrained by Mary's left hand, and appears to be about to step away from his mother. Meanwhile, Mary does not cling to her son or even look at him, but gazes down and away. It is believed the work was originally intended for an altar piece. If this is so, then it would have been displayed facing slightly to the right and looking down. The early 16th-century sculpture also displays the High Renaissance Pyramid style frequently seen in the works of Leonardo da Vinci during the late 1400s.
Madonna and Child shares certain similarities with Michelangelo's Pietà, which was completed shortly before – mainly, the chiaroscuro effect and movement of the drapery. The long, oval face of Mary is also reminiscent of the Pietà.
The work is also notable in that it was the only sculpture by Michelangelo to leave Italy during his lifetime. It was bought by Giovanni and Alessandro Moscheroni (Mouscron), from a family of wealthy cloth merchants in Bruges, then one of the leading commercial cities in Europe. The sculpture was sold for 4,000 florins.
The sculpture was removed twice from Belgium after its initial arrival. The first was in 1794, after French Revolutionaries had conquered the Austrian Netherlands during the French Revolutionary Wars; the citizens of Bruges were ordered to ship it and several other valuable works of art to Paris. It was returned after Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo in 1815. The second removal was in 1944, during World War II, with the retreat of German soldiers, who smuggled the sculpture to Germany enveloped in mattresses in a Red Cross truck.[1] It was discovered a year later in Altaussee/Austria within a salt mine and again returned. It now sits in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium. This is part of the fact-based movie The Monuments Men.
The Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium, dates mainly from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries.
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country.
The historic city centre is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO.
Along with a few other canal-based northern cities, such as Amsterdam, it is sometimes referred to as The Venice of the North. Bruges has a significant economic importance thanks to its port and was once one of the world's chief commercial cities. Bruges is well known as the seat of the College of Europe, a university institute for European studies.
#LIFEATEXPEDIA #TRAVEL #HILLBILLYINPARIS #BRUGES](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6155224/b8400ec3-b78b-4878-9baf-95653180a72e.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)
Visit Church of Our Lady
Tours & day trips
See all 180 activities
Bruges Day Trip from Amsterdam
Private & custom tours
See all 92 activities
Romantic Bruges: Love Between the Canals Exploration Game
Food, drink & nightlife
See all 29 activities
Bruges: The Beer Experience Museum Entry with Audio Guide
Adventure & outdoor
See all 16 activities
Bruges: Guided Retro Bike Tour of Highlights and Hidden Gems
Classes & workshops
See all 9 activities
Bruges: Chocolate Making Workshop and Chocolate Museum Entry
Popular places to visit
Groeningemuseum
Six centuries of Belgian and Flemish art are displayed in one of the country's foremost galleries.
St. Salvators Church
After visiting St. Salvators Church, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Bruges. Discover the area's fascinating museums or seek out its local tours.
De Halve Maan Brewery
You can learn about the history of Bruges when you stop by De Halve Maan Brewery. Discover the top-notch restaurants and fascinating museums in this romantic area.
Archeological Museum
You can browse the exhibits at Archeological Museum, a museum with a storied past, during your trip to Bruges. Visit the shops and lively breweries in this family-friendly area.
Apotheek
You can learn about the history of Bruges with a visit to Apotheek. Add the area's shops or stunning cathedral to your travel plans.
Hof Arents
You can learn about the history of Bruges with a stop at Hof Arents. Discover the area's stunning cathedral or seek out its local tours.
Top Church of Our Lady Hotel Deals
Check availability on hotels close to Church of Our Lady
Martin's Brugge
Boutique Hotel Sablon by CW Hotel Collection
Grand Hotel Casselbergh Bruges
Novotel Brugge Centrum
Canal View Hotel Ter Brughe by CW Hotel Collection
ibis budget Brugge Centrum Station
Martin's Relais
Dukes’ Academie – by Dukes’ Hotel Collection
Grand Hotel Normandy by CW Hotel Collection
* Savings based on package bookings compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings not available on all packages. Book Flight + Lodging, save up to 100% of flight price - Savings based on flight + lodging package prices as compared to the price of the same components available for booking separately before all discounts and rewards applied. Your bundled savings cover up to 100% of your flight. Savings vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and travel suppliers. Savings not available on all flight + lodging package bookings.