Worship Info - Prayer: Public & Private - (Page 2 of 5)

All of the museums represented in this website have collected European art over many years, leading to a strong Christian representation within the collections. Some of the works of art shown here are for Christian prayer or contemplation.

For example the Altarpiece: Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ was once a piece for public contemplation within a church, created to honour God, to remind people of the Christian story and to provide a focus for their prayer.

The Madonna and Child by Bernard Van Orley is very small in comparison, indicating that it is for private contemplation. In contrast to the figures on the altarpiece, the two figures appear very human, allowing a more personal, immediate relationship between the subject matter and the viewer.

Likewise, with the small, exquisitely decorated, Book of Hours, made for an individual, to help them recite their daily prayers.