Kachelplaat met Christus en de Samaritaanse vrouw
1550 - 1600
Medium
casting
Dimensions
37; 58.5; 70
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Deze haardplaat is gegoten met gebruik van twee modellen. Een model voor de bovenste zone en een model voor de onderste zone. Dit in tegenstelling tot BK-NM-3506, waar slechts één model is gebruikt.
Art Historical Context
**Kachelplaat met Christus en de Samarita vrouw** *Unknown artist, 1550–1600, Cast iron, 70 × 58.5 cm, 37 kg* This striking hearth plate, or *kachelplaat*, depicts the biblical encounter between Christ and the Samaritan woman at well (John 4), a scene symbolizing spiritual enlightenment and redemption. Crafted in the late 16th during the Renaissance in the Low Countries—likely the Netherlands or Flanders—this functional artwork transformed everyday fireplaces into spaces of moral reflection. Such plates were common in prosperous burgher homes, blending practicality with piety amid the Reformation's emphasis on personal faith. What sets this piece apart is its innovative casting technique: it was made using *two distinct models*—one for the upper zone and one for the lower—allowing for greater detail and complexity in the relief design. This contrasts with simpler single-model plates like BK-NM-3506, highlighting advances in foundry practices that enabled intricate biblical narratives on durable iron. Weighing a substantial 37 kg, its robust form ensured longevity over open flames. As both hearth essential and devotional object, this anonymous masterpiece offers a window into 16th-century domestic life, where art warmed both body and soul. Visitors, imagine the flickering firelight animating Christ's gesture and the woman's awe—timeless reminders of compassion across divides.
About the Artist
unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...