Pauselijke tiara en kandelaren, plaat 16 Possibly 1530 - 1620

Nicolaas Hogenberg created this print, *Pauselijke tiara en kandelaren, plaat 16*, which translates to *Papal Tiara and Candelabra, Plate 16,* sometime in the 16th century. It offers a window into the rituals and symbols of power within the Catholic Church during a period of immense religious and social upheaval. The print depicts a procession, highlighting the ornate papal tiara and tall, golden candelabras carried with ceremony. The figures are rendered with a meticulous attention to detail. Consider what it means to display religious authority, particularly during the Reformation. Hogenberg captures a moment of visual and performative power. This image reflects the Church’s effort to visually assert its divine mandate amidst growing criticism and challenges to its authority. The very act of illustrating such a procession can be seen as a statement, reinforcing the Church’s presence and influence through its visual representation. The print invites us to reflect on the intersections of power, religion, and representation in a world undergoing profound change. It serves as a reminder of the emotional and spiritual weight these symbols carried, and how they were used to shape perceptions and maintain order during a turbulent era.