Lessenaar gedecoreerd met een griffioen before 1889

This is a print depicting a lectern decorated with a griffin. The image brings to mind questions of artistic patronage and the social function of art within religious institutions. The lectern, adorned with a griffin, stands as a potent symbol. Griffins, with their lion bodies and eagle heads, are figures that represent strength, courage, and vigilance, all virtues that ecclesiastical authorities wanted to associate with their religious practices. The lectern was found in a church in Andenne, Belgium, a site with a rich history of religious art production, especially during the medieval period. Religious institutions like this church often commissioned artworks to enhance their prestige and convey their doctrines. To fully understand the symbolism and significance of this lectern, further research into the church's archives, historical documents, and the cultural context of the region would be essential. The history of art is deeply intertwined with social and institutional histories.