Panels from an organ case in the church of Saint Vitus in Naarden

These are panels from an organ case in the church of Saint Vitus in Naarden, carved in wood by Jan van Schayck. The panels feature regal figures, likely intended to align secular authority with the divine power embodied by the church organ. This union reflects the complex relationships between religious institutions and worldly rulers in the late medieval period. These images served to legitimize power structures and could have been influential in shaping social norms. Made in the Netherlands, this work invites us to consider the importance of the church in civic life at that time. By studying archival records, such as church inventories, and researching patronage networks, we can begin to understand the social conditions that shaped the production of this work and how it functioned within its original cultural context.