Vergulde en geëmalleerde koperen crucifix op de Tentoonstelling van oudheden in Delft before 1863

A.L. Oversluijs made this image of a gilded and enameled copper crucifix, which was featured at the Exhibition of Antiquities in Delft. As an object displayed in an exhibition of antiquities, this photograph points to a culture of collecting and display that shaped understandings of the past. Delft, with its rich history as a center for Dutch trade and art, became a fitting stage for such exhibitions. The crucifix, laden with religious symbolism, reflects the cultural and religious context of its origin and display. Consider the shifting meanings of religious objects as they move from sites of worship to secular spaces like exhibitions. How does this shift affect their interpretation and value? To understand the artifact better, we can consider the institutional histories of museums and exhibitions in the Netherlands, along with the socio-political context of religious practice.