Kelkglas met Cromwell bij de geopende doodskist van koning Karel I c. 1850

Editor: This is an intriguing piece! It’s a glass goblet, circa 1850, by an anonymous artist, depicting Oliver Cromwell at the open coffin of King Charles I. The image is delicately engraved into the glass itself. What strikes me is the starkness of the scene depicted, yet rendered in such a refined, almost celebratory object. How do you interpret this combination? Curator: The choice of imagery is powerful. The scene immortalizes a pivotal moment of regicide, permanently etching the victor Cromwell, next to the deposed Charles. Notice how the engraving medium of glass, despite its transparency, ironically serves as a means to solidify this historical and symbolic relationship. A memento mori. The goblet, a symbol of celebration, is here imbued with contemplation, creating a cultural echo of the changing fortunes. How do you see the dynamic between object and representation? Editor: I see the contrast! The clear glass feels almost neutral, as a carrier of an emotional weight that does not innately reside in it, rather borrowed and magnified, a bit like a blank canvas. The choice of a glass goblet, associated with toasts and celebration, almost feels satirical given the gravity of the scene represented. A constant and perplexing question keeps lurking at the back of my mind. Why? Curator: The juxtaposition likely carries a strong ideological intent. Consider the era when this glass was created. The 1850s. There were still deep societal divisions about the English Civil War, the regicide, and its aftermath. Displaying such a piece was not just about aesthetic appreciation; it was about declaring one's allegiances and perspectives. Perhaps drinking from this glass, literally internalizing the historical moment, and transforming it into a statement and testament of ideology. A statement to what extent does cultural memory intertwine personal choices? Editor: That makes the glass even more fascinating! It becomes a personal, almost defiant, statement. Thank you! Curator: Indeed. And that personal defiance now joins our conversation about it, doesn't it? Always, always an unveiling.