Guided tour of the Three Countries Museum: Discover the Crescent Moon Madonna!

Guided tour of the Three Countries Museum: Discover the Crescent Moon Madonna!

In a few days a very special cultural evening will take place in the Dreiländermuseum. On August 15, 2025, at 6 p.m., the public tour “Maria Reloaded – medieval world of faith rediscovered” will take place under the direction of art historian Jeanette Gutmann. This date falls on the Christian holiday of the Assumption of Mary, which is particularly celebrated in parts of Germany, Switzerland and France as well as in other predominantly Catholic countries. City of Lörrach reports that the tour will present outstanding objects from the field of religious art in the museum's permanent exhibition.

A central theme of the tour will be the depiction of Mary on a crescent moon. This iconic figure is often referred to as the Crescent Madonna in Christian art. And not without reason: the Crescent Moon Madonna, often also referred to as the Radiant Madonna or the Apocalyptic Madonna, is an important image of the Virgin Mary in Christian iconography. These depictions are based on John's visions from Revelation, which describe a pregnant woman being chased by a dragon. This symbolism is examined in detail during the tour and provides interesting insights into the medieval world of faith.

The Crescent Moon Madonna: An Art Site

The Crescent Moon Madonna with Child, made from lime wood around 1480, is one of the main works presented during this tour. This sculpture has impressive dimensions of 130 x 35 x 28 cm and wears a magnificent red robe and a gilded coat. An eight-pointed, silver-plated crown, decorated with suggested stones, towers above her. At the same time, the sculpture shows the naked baby Jesus on Mary's left shoulder. However, the workmanship is not without flaws: some parts of the child and mother are missing, and restoration work has been carried out on Maria's nose as well as other parts. This gives the statue a very special, living history that is sure to be a topic of conversation.

The depiction of this Madonna has a deep iconographic reference. It is based on the Revelation of John (chapter 12, 1-4), which describes a woman standing on the moon clothed with the sun and being pursued by a dragon. This shows not only the religious but also the artistic development towards Madonna worship in the late Middle Ages. The transformation from apocalyptic woman to crescent moon Madonna appeals to a wide audience and proves how Mary's role in Christian tradition has grown over the centuries. Wikipedia aptly summarizes this change by pointing out the diverse forms of representation of this figure.

Especially in 2025, when the holiday of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary coincides with increased interest in sacred art, the “Maria Reloaded” tour is a successful opportunity to gain deeper insights into the meaning of Mary in Christianity and at the same time admire the magnificent works of the Dreiländermuseum. This event is not only seen as a cultural contribution, but also as an invitation to everyone interested to explore the spiritual dimension and artistic memory of Mary.

Reservations for the tour can be made directly at the museum, and it will be interesting to see what further details and stories art historian Jeanette Gutmann has in store. An evening that will delight both art and religion lovers!