After studying the work of the Monuments Men this semester, I was thrilled at the idea of seeing the Bruges Madonna. In fact, seeing her was probably at the top of my list of things I had to do while here. There are so many testimonies to her beauty, her perfection, that I wanted to experience viewing her in person, without the subjective nature of a photograph in the way.

The only work of Michelangelo to leave Italy during his lifetime, stolen twice throughout history, was within my sight today. I was standing maybe 20 feet away from a work that people have dedicated their lives to recovering or restoring. Honestly, I was awestruck. After so much interest and study, I had finally been given the chance to view it with my own eyes, in person, through no one’s lens but my own. The Madonna looking down, somberly, away from Christ, who appears ready to embark on his own. Even through protective glass a fair amount of space, she was striking. I was lost in the detail of the cloth, the expressiveness of her face, and even the body language of the figure. I wanted to remember every detail, but first, I had to find, notice, and acknowledge them all with the respect they were due. The sheer reverence of the space, bolstered by music and a profound silence, left me without words.

Even as we walked away, I felt myself trailing behind, still looking into Mary’s eyes, hoping to catch something I hadn’t yet seen.