Christus predikend in de synagoge, de Farizeeërs brengen de overspelige vrouw c. 1498 - 1564

This roundel panel of stained glass depicts two scenes from the life of Christ, and was likely made somewhere in the Low Countries during the 16th century. The choice of subject matter – Christ preaching in the synagogue, and the Pharisees bringing him an adulterous woman – suggests a reflection on themes of justice, hypocrisy, and divine authority. In the image, we see how the architecture of the synagogue is rendered in a distinctly European style, highlighting how Biblical narratives were often re-imagined within the cultural context of the time and place in which they were made. Religious artworks like this one were often commissioned by wealthy patrons or religious institutions, such as churches or monasteries, and were intended to serve as devotional aids or to communicate religious teachings to a wider audience. To fully understand a piece like this, we can look to historical sources like contemporary religious texts, social commentaries, and records of artistic patronage to find out more about its original social and institutional context.