ORB Online Encyclopedia

Danish Church Art

The Life of Jesus to Age 12

James Mills


Presentation in the Temple

Lillibraende. c.1300. (M-K 16-020). Presentation in the Temple. Right over alter. Left, two figures, with nimbus. Center, Child, with nimbus, stands on alter. Right, figure with hands held shoulder high. This wall paintings is in very poor condition. However it does show the most used iconographic convention, the BVM on the left side of the altar, Jesus standing on the altar, and the High Priest on the right. In only one of the illustrations, Gislev, dated 1520 is this arrangement changed.

Svaerdborg. c.1375-1400. (M-K 23-033). Presentation in the Temple. Choir, north arch. Top, presentation in the Temple. BVM, with nimbus, holds Child on alter. Child, with nimbus, nude, stands on alter. Man, right, hands out stretched towards Child. Left, Annunciation. Left, angel, with nimbus, right hand pointing down, left hand pointing up, kneeling. Right, BVM, with nimbus, hands shoulder high, palms facing. Right, Visitation. BVM, with nimbus, embraces Elizabeth, with nimbus.

Kirke Stillinge. c.1400. (M-K 14-122). Presentation in the Temple. Choir, north wall, left detail. Left, BVM, with nimbus, holds Child. Child, with cross nimbus, stands on cloth covered altar. Cloth decorated. Right, man with nimbus, reaches towards Child with cloth covered hands.

Keldby. c.1480. Elmelunde Workshop. (M-K 14-050). Presentation in the Temple. Sect 1, north arch, left. Left, angel holds robe of Christ. Center, Christ, with cross nimbus, hands, palms together, in prayer, nude, kneels waist deep in water. Right, John B., with nimbus, right hand on head of Christ, left hand holds object. Right, Presentation in the Temple. Left, female figure with nimbus and basket, next, BVM, with nimbus, hands outstretched to Child. Child, with cross nimbus, stands on altar covered with striped cloth, hands outstretched to BVM. Right, Simon, hands outstretched, holds Child. Far right, servant with candle. Door in altar shows object. Above, scroll, text. Virgo libana Christum, symeonis recipit istum.

Gislev. c.1520. (M-K 09-068). Presentation in the Temple. Sect 3, south arch. Left, bearded man with nimbus. Center, Child with cross nimbus. Right, BVM, with nimbus, crowned and with long unbound hair.

Loenborg. c.1560. 20-056. (M-K 20-056).Presentation in the Temple. Top part. Left, male figure. Center, BVM, with nimbus, holds Child on altar. Child, nude, sits on altar, hands outstretched towards figure right. Right, figure, wearing bishop's miter, hands outstretched towards Child. Danish text, cannot read. Bottom part. Flight to Egypt. Left, BVM, with nimbus, seated on donkey, holds Child. Above BVM's head, text. maria. Right, Joseph, travel staff over left shoulder, leads donkey by rope in right hand. Far right, buildings. Danish text, illegible. Note that the high priest is wearing a bishop's miter. In several of the English mystery plays the high priest is called "bisschop". Again, this is after the Reformation.

If you would like to look at the images listed below, go to Axel Bolvig's collection of wall painting at the University of Copenhagen at http://kalk.historie.ku.dk Go to the Kirkeindex, select the name of the church with the wall painting, and browse through the wall paintings in the church until you see the one you want.

Fanefjord. c.1480. Elmelunde. 08-029. Presentation in the Temple. North nave, sect 2, south arch. Left, two women, with nimbi, hands together in prayer. Center, Child, with cross nimbus, stands on cloth covered alter. Right, Simon, holds Child's left hand. Far right, servant with candle. Text below. Virgo libana christum, Symeonis recipit istum.

Jetsmark. c.1474.13-022. Presentation in the Temple. Poor condition, part lost. Center. Left, two figures stand. Center, head of Christ with cross nimbus. Right part of figure, standing figure.

Kettinge. c.1500.14-076. Presentation in the Temple. Sect 2, south arch, left pendentive. Left, female figure with nimbus. Center, Child, with nimbus, on altar. Right, male figure with nimbus.

Kirke Stillinge. c.1400.14-121. Presentation in the Temple. Choir, N wall. Adoration of the Magi and Presentation in the Temple. Fully described below. (See 14-122, above)

Kongsted. c.1430. Kongsted Workshop.15-092. Presentation in the Temple. Sect 2, south arch. Left, two women with nimbi, one with basket and doves. Center, BVM, with nimbus, holds Child on altar. Altar covered with decorated cloth. Child, with cross nimbus, stands on altar. Right, man, with nimbus, hands covered with cloth, reaches towards Child.

Kvistlemark. c.1435. Kongsted Workshop.15-117. Presentation in the Temple. Sect 1, south arch. Left, woman with nimbus. BVM, with nimbus, holds Child by left hand. Child, with nimbus, stands on altar. Right, Simon, hands covered with cloth reaches out to touch Child.

Moerkoev. c.1450. Isefjord Workshop. 17-043. Presentation in the Temple. Sect 1, east arch, right pendentive. Left, woman, with nimbus, holds basket. Next, BVM, with nimbus, supports Child. Child, with nimbus, stands on cloth covered altar, facing man with bishop's miter.

Tuse. c.1450. Isefjord Workshop. 25-098. Presentation in the Temple. Sect 1, east arch, right pendentive. FL, building. left, servant with candle and basket of doves. Center left, BVM, with nimbus, supporting Child. Center, Child, with cross nimbus, nude, stands erect on altar hands outstretched towards Simon. Simon, right, wearing bishop's miter, hands covered with cloth.

Vordingborg. c.1470. 29-044. Presentation in the Temple. Sect 1, southeast arch. Left, servant with doves in basket. Center left, BVM, with nimbus, holds Christ on altar. Christ, with cross nimbus, clothed, stands on altar. Right, man, with covered hands, reaches towards Christ.

Aagerup. c.1500. 31-025. Presentation in the Temple. Sect 3, south arch. Left, Presentation in the Temple. Left, Joseph holds basket with doves. Center, BVM, with nimbus, holds Child. Child, with cross nimbus, stands on altar. Right figure with bishop's miter. Far right, servant with candle. Right, Christ in temple at age 12. Center, Christ, seated on dais, flanked by scholars.

Aagerup. c.1500. 31-027. Presentation in the Temple. Sect 3, south arch, left detail.

Images in Danmarks kirker.

Hassing, XII-535, 6. Presentation in the Temple. painted wood, pulpit 1600-10. Tisted style.

Loegum klosterkirke, XXI-1096, 28-33. Presentation in the Temple. painted wood, altar panel c.1325. Similar to Rieseby in Kr. Eckernforde, in National Museum. Oldest painted panel in Denmark.

Ribe, St. Katrine, XIX-749, 61, 62. Presentation in the Temple, wood sculpture, pulpit. c.1591.

Toender Kristkirke, XXI-966, 18. Presentation in the Temple. wood sculpture, font cover. c.1619. By a woodcarver from Toender.

Horbelev, VIII-1438, 8, 9. Presentation in the Temple, painted wood, reredos. 1475.

Udby, VI-914. Presentation in the Temple, wood sculpture. c.1500. In Vordingborg Museum. Left, Joseph holds basket with doves. Center, BVM, with nimbus, holds Child. Child, with cross nimbus, stands on altar. Right figure with bishop's miter. Far right, servant with candle. Right, Christ in temple at age 12. Center, Christ, seated on dais, flanked by scholars.

Aagerup. c.1500. 31-027. Presentation in the Temple. Sect 3, south arch, left detail.

Images in Danmarks kirker.

Hassing, XII-535, 6. Presentation in the Temple. painted wood, pulpit 1600-10. Tisted style.

Loegum klosterkirke, XXI-1096, 28-33. Presentation in the Temple. painted wood, altar panel c.1325. Similar to Rieseby in Kr. Eckernforde, in National Museum. Oldest painted panel in Denmark.

Ribe, St. Katrine, XIX-749, 61, 62. Presentation in the Temple, wood sculpture, pulpit. c.1591.

Toender Kristkirke, XXI-966, 18. Presentation in the Temple. wood sculpture, font cover. c.1619. By a woodcarver from Toender.

Horbelev, VIII-1438, 8, 9. Presentation in the Temple, painted wood, reredos. 1475.

Udby, VI-914. Presentation in the Temple, wood sculpture. c.1500. In Vordingborg Museum.


Copyright © 1998, James Mills. This file may be copied on the condition that the entire contents,including the header and this copyright notice, remain intact.


ORB Homepage About ORB Who is ORB? ORB Library ORB Reference Shelf Index