The altarpiece of the large chapel in the southern aisle, known as the Cappella sacra created in the 18th century in the
Baroque style, The block of marble used to sculpt the
Madonna weighed close to a ton so suitable locations for carving would have been limited. It is likely that Michelangelo began carving the sculpture in
Carrara, as he was there for close to a year in 1505. The
Madonna was completed in 1506. and in 1514 it was donated to its present home. The sculpture was a memorial to the Mouscron parents, "...which would include a 'sumptuous tabernacle' that would hold an 'excellent' sculpture of the Virgin that is 'very precious' and 'costly'..." No alterations are allowed to be made to the
Madonna without proper permission. While Michelangelo was alive, the
Madonna was the only sculpture to be taken out of Italy. The sculpture was twice recovered after being looted by foreign occupiers—French revolutionaries c. 1794 and Nazi Germans in 1944. Close to the Michelangelo statue important Brugeans are buried such as Françoise de Haveskercke, buried next to her husband in the black tomb of the Haveskercke family on the right side of the statue. ==Gallery==