Twee vergulde zilveren chrismatoria, opgesteld op een tentoonstelling over religieuze objecten uit de middeleeuwen en renaissance in 1864 in Mechelen before 1866

Editor: This photograph, taken before 1866 by Joseph Maes, depicts "Twee vergulde zilveren chrismatoria," two gilded silver chrismatories exhibited in Mechelen in 1864. I find the setting fascinating – capturing religious objects displayed in what seems like a proto-museum context. What's your take? Curator: It’s interesting how this photograph serves as a record, not just of the objects, but of a particular moment in the history of exhibiting art and religious artifacts. This was a period of intense interest in cataloging and displaying cultural heritage. Think about the burgeoning museum culture in the 19th century: how did displaying these objects shift their meaning? Editor: It almost feels like the photo itself is becoming part of that cataloging process you mentioned. It's not just preserving the objects but also preserving the act of exhibiting them. Curator: Precisely. Photography democratized access to art in a way previously unimaginable. It also raises questions about the intent behind the exhibit. Was it purely celebratory of religious objects, or did it reflect a more complex relationship between church, state, and the rising tide of secularism? Who was the intended audience for this exhibit? Editor: It makes you wonder about the selection process too – why *these* chrismatories? And what happened to them afterwards? It is like this photo has turned into some sort of an evidence file! Curator: The existence of the photograph speaks to the impulse to document and classify. Consider the medium – gelatin silver print – in its own historical context. Photography was both an art form and a tool for documentation, contributing to shaping public perceptions. Editor: That's a perspective shift for me. It's easy to see the objects, but the photo is part of the historical picture, too! Thank you. Curator: Indeed! Looking at historical exhibition photography brings many threads together, including religious objects, museum and secular values, art production and reception. It's these points of intersection which make it thought provoking.