Ontwerp voor een miskelk 1580 - 1634

Pieter de Jode I created this design for a chalice in the late 16th or early 17th century, using pen and brown ink, with brown wash, over black chalk. The drawing presents a symmetrical, hierarchical structure. At the base, we see allegorical figures flanking a coat of arms, leading our eye upward to the Virgin Mary carrying the Christ Child. Surmounting these figures are decorative cherubs, supporting the chalice itself. This carefully arranged composition, rendered in delicate lines, evokes a sense of reverence. The design incorporates classical motifs with Christian symbolism, reflecting the influence of the Renaissance. The use of symmetry can be viewed as an attempt to establish order and harmony, central to the religious function of the chalice, and in the context of the Catholic Reformation, this design emphasizes the church’s established doctrines. Yet, the elaborate ornamentation also destabilizes any fixed meaning, inviting multiple interpretations. Ultimately, the chalice design operates as a site where aesthetics, religion, and politics converge, reflecting the complex interplay of cultural forces during this period.