Ciborie gedecoreerd met het laatste avondmaal en putti 1738 - 1749

This print at the Rijksmuseum is a design for a ciborium by Gabriel Huquier, made in the 18th century. The linear precision and ordered symmetry immediately capture the eye. The artist presents a chalice design with etched lines delineating depth and shadow. The object's form guides our perception, from the weighted base, up to the delicate, adorned bowl. The structure displays an interplay between the sacred and the decorative. A scene of the Last Supper is framed by classical figures. The stylized putti and the cross motif on the lid integrate religious symbolism with Baroque aesthetics. This fusion invites reflection on how religious art incorporates secular artistic movements. The print's formal qualities—balance, proportion, and the detailed etching—establish a visual vocabulary which challenges a fixed religious interpretation. It prompts a re-evaluation of how we engage with objects of devotion and cultural symbolism.