The Triumph of the Church II

When during the early Renaissance Italian humanists raised the idea of reviving Roman triumphal processions in the spirit of ancient traditions, the representatives of the Church protested against such the glorification of mortals. Later, however, influenced by humanist ideals, they came to recognize its practical significance in fostering the popularity of the Church. After the Council of Trent, the activities of the Counter Reformation, in which art played a significant role, were designed to restore the authority and power of the Church, which had been eroded by the Reformation. The most typical manifestation of such activity in art was the depiction of triumphal processions glorifying the Church and the Catholic faith.

Hans Speeckaert devoted two large pen and ink drawings to depicting the triumph of the Church. Presumably, he made the drawings for tapestries. Both compositions are set in an impressive landscape, they are framed by trees with thick trunks and rich foliage and the background opens up onto a distant vista.