Basin for Holy Water
Basin for Holy Water
3D
Published 2019-05-23T10:04:18+00:00
This would have stood at the door of a church so that people could bless or sprinkle themselves with water upon entry. The dolphin was a symbol for Christ. It was believed at the time to be a type of fish, and in Greek the firstl etters of 'Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour' form the word for fish (itchtys).
The holy water basin is made of marble which rests on a richly carved stem of Istrian stone. It probably would have originally been placed inside the front door of a Venetian church, as the carving style and the use of Istrian stone is typical of that city. The Latin inscription on the base, AQVA SALVTIS AETERNAE, (Water of Eternal Health) refers to the holy water contained within the basin which was used to bless members of the congregation.
| Date published | 23/05/2019 |
| Schwierigkeitsgrad | Easy |
| Title | Basin for Holy Water |
| Date | ca.1500 |
| Dimension | Height: 110 cm, Diameter: 50 cm |
| Accession | 2-1890 |
| Period | Renaissance |
| Medium | Marble |
| Record | http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O122366/holy-water-basin-holy-water-basin-unknown/ |
| Artist | Unknown artist |
| Place | Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
