Saint Michael’s Church

Antoon van Dyck (1599-1641)

Christ on the Cross

Art in Flanders

Sint-Michielsplein, Gent

Anthony van Dyck was the wonder that helped define the Baroque period. He certainly proved himself with panache, a suitable dose of drama and feeling, and a touch of genius at Saint Michael's Church in Ghent.

Saint Michael’s Church

Saint Michael’s Church has a long and extraordinary construction history of more than 200 years, which started in 1440. The Gothic church exhibits a remarkable unity of style, which is also reflected in the interior. It is a haven of peace within the city centre of Ghent.

Christ on the Cross - Antoon van Dyck

In this canvas, a Flemish masterpiece, Antoon van Dyck combines a very simple composition with deep emotions: the suffering of Christ, the sorrow of Mary, John and Mary Magdalene, the cruelty of the soldiers. The contrast between the dramatic, dark cloud cover, the deathly pale Christ and the colourful bystanders heightens the emotional impact. This was the most expensive of the many altarpieces that Van Dyck painted between 1627 and 1632.