Herdenkingsmonument in de Sint-Gertrudiskerk te Nijvel before 1889

This is an image of a stone commemorative monument in Sint-Gertrudiskerk, Nivelles, likely dating from the fifteenth or sixteenth century. Notice the structural symmetry and classical features of the monument. Two fluted columns, complete with Corinthian capitals, frame a central niche where a regal figure sits enthroned. The composition creates a hierarchy: architectural elements ground the scene, while the figure and emblems draw our eye upward. Even the cherubic figures above the throne contribute to this structural and iconographic ascent. This monument serves as a kind of visual syntax, where each component is carefully placed to convey meaning. The classical architecture and hierarchical arrangement suggest a specific way of understanding power, order, and the relationship between the earthly and the divine. Consider how these formal qualities work together to communicate complex ideas, reminding us that even in the absence of color, structure and form can carry significant cultural weight.