Preekstoel met de Heilige Geest en God de Vader 1687 - 1725

Johann Conrad Reiff created this print of a pulpit with the Holy Spirit and God the Father. The architecture of the Catholic Church from the medieval period through the Enlightenment has always been invested with symbolic meaning. This print emphasizes the role of the church in the construction of a cultural and social space. This print was made in the Netherlands, a society that was organized around its religious institutions. In this image, Reiff’s intricate engraving is devoted to images of religious power. We see the Holy Spirit descending as a dove, with God the Father watching over from above. Putti cavort around the base of the pulpit. What might this tell us about the Church’s role in early modern society? Historical study provides the context for understanding the work. Details of the artist’s life and of the Catholic church in the Netherlands can reveal much about the meaning of this print.