The Madonna in the Church

The “Madonna in the Church“ is one of the most beautiful and precious works created by Jan van Eyck (c.1390–1441).

The softly falling light reflects off the walls and the floor of the nave of a cathedral, reminding us of the passage of time, even as it seems to stand still in this tender moment.

A rood screen separates the nave from the choir of the church, and through its central doorway, one seen  a deacon and an angel singing  from a choir book . Mass is not celebrated at the high altar behind them, but they sing a hymn in praise of the Virgin Mary.

On an altar in the left-hand side niche of the rood screen stands a statue of the Madonna, flanked by two burning candles. It clearly resembles the Virgin and Child in the centre of the painting, and thus it seems as if the stone sculpture has miraculously come to life and is now standing as a vision of the saintly mother and her child themselves in front to us.

The Virgin and Child are shown larger than life to indicate their remove from the realm of human understanding.

Since early Christian times, Mary has been referred to as the temple and house of God, since Christ resided in her womb as if in a temple.

In Van Eyck’s painting, reality and vision are one: The viewer has the impression of gazing into a distant world which is at once very close to and far beyond our own.