Interior of a Church, ca. 1665

After the arrival of Calvinism, church buildings were opened up to the supporters of the ‘new religion’. Sculptures, paintings and other Roman Catholic interior elements were removed. Nothing must detract from the study of the Bible. In this painting, the faithful have gathered around the pulpit and are listening to the preacher. A diamond-shaped sign of mourning can be seen overhead. Such signs were erected after the death of a prominent person as a sign of remembrance. The church interior is not a realistic representation, but a mixture of components borrowed from a variety of existing churches, complemented with fantasy elements.