Plate 1758

This plate, made by Anthoni Pennis, depicts Christ's entry into Jerusalem, rendered in painted tin-glazed earthenware. Plates like these were luxury objects in their time. Their decoration offers a glimpse into the complex interplay between religious imagery and elite social life. The image's meaning resides in the Gospel story being illustrated. The figures, architecture and landscape, each detail carries theological weight. But we should not forget the plate's place in the household. It was a decorative piece intended for display, and perhaps, on special occasions, for dining. Its presence signals the owner's taste, wealth, and social standing, as well as the cultural values they wish to project. To understand the plate fully, we would benefit from further archival research into the class of people who purchased such items. The history of taste helps us understand the changing place of religious imagery in Renaissance society.