Tabernakel van steen, ontworpen door Cornelis Floris de Vriendt, in de Sint-Leonarduskerk in Zoutleeuw, België before 1887

Here is a stone tabernacle designed by Cornelis Floris de Vriendt, in the Sint-Leonarduskerk in Zoutleeuw, Belgium. In the sixteenth century, the Reformation swept through Europe, challenging the established Catholic Church. Religious artworks became potent symbols of identity, belief, and power. This tabernacle embodies the tension inherent in religious representation. Crafted during a time of intense religious upheaval, it reflects a desire to assert Catholic authority through art. Its elaborate design and placement within the church signaled a commitment to traditional rituals and beliefs, in contrast to the iconoclasm embraced by some Protestant factions. Commissioned for a tomb, the tabernacle represents a deeply personal expression of faith and remembrance. The identities of those memorialized are intertwined with broader religious and political affiliations, reflecting how individual lives are shaped by larger historical forces. It serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities inherent in identity formation during times of social and religious change.