에클레시아
1435
Meet Ecclesia, the personification of the Christian Church, standing tall in a striking red robe that drapes heavily to the floor. She holds a golden chalice containing the communion host and a tall processional cross, looking off into the distance with a serene expression. Painted by Konrad Witz in 1435, this figure was likely part of a pair, standing opposite 'Synagoga' to illustrate the medieval theological idea of the Church replacing the Synagogue. Witz was a master of the Early Netherlandish style who loved realistic details—he's actually famous for painting the first accurate landscape of Lake Geneva! Here, he places her in a deep stone niche, making her look like a solid, statuesque figure.
Location: Kunstmuseum Basel