The Deathbed of Mary: Stained Glass Artistry at Oude Kerk

This page details 'The Deathbed of Mary in Stained Glass,' a historic stained-glass window designed by Dirck Crabeth in 1555. The artwork depicts Mary on her deathbed, surrounded by apostles, and includes a scene with the Brunt family, the donors of the window. It represents a significant piece of 16th-century glass artistry within the Oude Kerk.

The Oude Kerk features 'The Deathbed of Mary in Stained Glass,' a remarkable piece of historical artistry originally designed by the glass painter Dirck Crabeth in 1555. The window vividly portrays Mary on her deathbed, with St. Peter offering her a candle and the apostles gathered around, their emotional expressions meticulously rendered in Crabeth's signature style. The design for this window is preserved in the Rijksmuseum's print collection. In 1639, the upper part of the window was revised by Pieter Jansz., possibly offering a new interpretation of Crabeth's original design, resulting in a unique combination of 16th and 17th-century glass artistry. Below the main scene, the donor family Brunt is depicted, including Cornelis Brunt, his wife Trijn Loenen, their daughter Lijsbeth, and Lijsbeth's husband Reijnier, alongside their respective spouses and children. The inclusion of patron saints and family crests further personalizes the artwork. This window, part of a series for the Mariakapel, survived the Alteratie, a period of iconoclasm, highlighting the Oude Kerk's continued Catholic tradition during the Reformation. The window underwent a five-year restoration and was returned in 2025, remaining a key part of the Collectie Nederland.

The Oude Kerk is open daily and on Sundays. Visitors can purchase regular entry tickets through the provided link. The exhibition is part of the general admission to the Oude Kerk.