There were church artists in Norway, but if you were able to buy from Germany, it was a symbol of wealth. The altarpiece from Andenes is just that.
The altarpiece from Andenes hangs in Tromsø Museum and towers over the church room. And it doesn’t hang alone, but is flanked on both sides by two side altars, also from Andenes. On the left side is St. Hallvard, and on the right side is Mary and her mother, Saint Anne. It is a Virgin and Child with Saint Anne figure. Both are from the period between the conversion and reformation in Norway. Large parts of the Northern Norwegian church art in the museum is from Vesterålen, and especially from Andenes. They are silent witnesses to a time of greatness.
Photo: Jitse Buitink // Per Helge Nylund at Tromsø Museum proudly showing the altarpiece from Andenes.
Read more: How old is Andenes Actually?
The altarpiece from Andenes.
Here you can listen to a podcast on church art from Andenes with Per Helge Nylund at Tromsø Museum. (in Norwegian)
THE CRUCIFIX IN ANDENES
Even today, Andenes church still has impressive art. The crucifix in Andenes has survived war and fire. Churchwarden, Jan Harald Andersen, has heard that it is very old and that it was laying in the loft of the church for many years. Now it has gotten a well-deserved restoration by skilled people.
The church art from Vesterålen is, as stated before, a very large part of the collection. Many of the churches in the region still have significant artworks that can be worth a look for those who are interested in art and history. The church buildings themselves are also impressive.
In Andøy, we have three state churches, but a lot of prayer houses and other religious buildings. There was also a catholic church in Stave. We’ll get back to that later.