Ontwerp voor een altaar in de Kerk van het Kasteel te Antwerpen 1697

This altar design for the Church of the Castle in Antwerp, rendered by Pieter Scheemaeckers, presents a symphony of Catholic iconography. At its heart, the Virgin Mary stands triumphant atop the globe, with the Christ Child bearing a cross, symbols of the Church’s universal dominion. The globe, often seen beneath the feet of divine figures, appears as early as late antiquity. Consider the Roman emperors who held orbs, emblems of their worldly power. The Church, adopting and adapting this symbol, transformed it into a sign of spiritual authority. The image of the Madonna and Child carries echoes of the divine feminine, a powerful archetype. Feel how the Baroque dynamism and soaring composition, engages us, stirring profound emotional and subconscious connections. The symbol takes new life in Scheemaeckers' design. Thus, it is clear that in the evolution of symbols, the story of humanity itself is mirrored.