Kaft van een evangeliarium van koning Hendrik II van Frankrijk before 1864

This print by Franz Kellerhoven depicts the cover of a Gospel book belonging to King Henry II of France. It shows the use of ivory, precious metals, and enamel; materials associated with wealth and status. The image presents a relief carving, a complex process of removing material to reveal a design. This would have required specialized knowledge and skill. The cover is also encrusted with jewels. These are not only decorative, but valuable in themselves, signalling power and influence. Consider the time and labor required to extract, refine, and shape these materials. The cover becomes a testament to the extensive resources and skilled labor at the King’s command. It raises questions about the social and economic context in which such luxurious objects were produced, inviting us to think critically about the relationships between art, labor, and power. It challenges us to consider the lives and labor that underpin these displays of wealth and artistic achievement.