Decoratie van de troonzaal in "Le Luxembourg". Allegorie op de invoering van het Christendom in Europa. In het midden drie engelen een kruis plaatsende op het voetstuk van een omvergeworpen beeld van Jupiter 1851 - 1893

Ferdinand Leenhoff created this allegory of the introduction of Christianity in Europe as a decoration for the throne room in "Le Luxembourg". The piece reflects the complex dynamics of power, belief, and cultural transformation that have shaped the continent. In the center, angels erect a cross on the pedestal of a toppled statue of Jupiter. It is a scene rife with symbolism. The triumph of Christianity is portrayed through the literal overthrow of the pagan god. This transition wasn’t merely a change in religious practice; it was a cultural and political reset. The cost of such conversion is visible in the figures lying dead beneath the cross. They serve as a potent reminder of the violence and coercion inherent in the spread of Christianity. The identities of those who were converted and those who converted them is an important historical point. Leenhoff's work invites us to reflect on the narratives we inherit and the unspoken histories they carry.