The Madonna of Dangolsheim

The Madonna of Dangolsheim is a 1.02-meter walnut wood sculpture, globally recognized as one of the finest representations of the Virgin from the second half of the 15th century. Created by Nikolaus Gerhaert von Leyden, originally from the Netherlands and considered one of the greatest sculptors in Northern Europe at the end of the Middle Ages, it stands out for its striking realism and remarkable artistic finesse. The Child Jesus, hidden beneath his mother's veil, is watched by her with an expression of tenderness and happiness, immediately captivating the viewer.

The history of this statue remains partly mysterious. It is believed to have been transported from Strasbourg to Dangolsheim to protect it from iconoclasts. Around 1910, a London art dealer acquired it cheaply in this village before reselling it to a Munich collector. In 1913, the Society of Friends of the Imperial Museum of Berlin purchased it, and it was then integrated into the collections of the Kaiser Friedrich Museum, now the Bode Museum, where it is currently on public display.

A replica of this major work, obtained through an innovative process, is kept in the Saint Pancras Church of Dangolsheim, allowing visitors to discover this masterpiece without traveling to Berlin.