Nebukadnezar eet gras onder de koeien c. 1560

This is an anonymous roundel made from stained glass, depicting Nebuchadnezzar eating grass among the cows. It likely comes from the Netherlands, made around the 16th century. The story of Nebuchadnezzar is well-known: a Babylonian king who, due to his hubris, was driven from society and forced to live as an animal. This image shows a man on all fours eating grass, surrounded by bovine creatures in a field. In the background, there's a vision of a city, perhaps referencing Nebuchadnezzar's lost kingdom. Glass roundels like this would have been relatively common in upper-class households, acting as both decoration and as a display of biblical knowledge. Artists were often anonymous artisans working within a strong guild system. Understanding the cultural and religious context of the time can help us to appreciate the many layers of meaning within the artwork and the role that it played in the social life of its period. Accessing archives, libraries, and databases may reveal further information about the artwork and its historical context.