Pendant Design with Faith Standing in a Circular Temple 1530 - 1573

This is a design for a pendant, made in the late 16th century by Jan Collaert I, who was active in Antwerp, now Belgium, with engraving. Antwerp was a center for the production of luxury goods and this print, with its elaborate ornamentation, gives us a clear idea of the kind of jewelry that was fashionable amongst the wealthy merchant classes. At the center of the pendant is a figure of Faith, identified by the cross she carries. She stands in a circular temple, suggesting the importance of religious belief in the daily lives of people at this time. The pendant is decorated with floral motifs and scrollwork, reflecting the artistic trends of the Renaissance period and these swirling, organic patterns celebrate the beauty of the natural world. To fully understand this image, art historians might consult period pattern books and inventories of jewelry collections. By doing so, we can better appreciate the social and cultural values that shaped artistic production in 16th-century Antwerp.