MASTERPIECE

The Miracle Book is exceptional because, as far as is known, it is the only illustrated text of miracles from the Southern Netherlands. Other miracle books usually only comprise text: pages full of testimonies of miracles chronicled by a cleric of the place of worship. The book seems closer to the broad and visually rich miracle culture. A place of worship was often decorated with paintings, tapestries and stained glass with images of miracles. Furthermore, pilgrims took votive offerings, pilgrims’ insignia, and prints with the images on their journeys. In the Church of Our Lady of Damme, there is a panel with miracle images in the same format as the drawings from the Miracle Book.