SAENREDAM, Pieter Jansz
(b. 1597, Assendelft, d. 1665, Haarlem)

Interior of the Sint-Bavokerk in Haarlem

1636
Oil on panel, 96 x 57 cm
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

When Saenredam made this painting of St. Bavo, prominent Haarlem music-lovers were lobbying for more organ music in the church. The originally Catholic church was being used for Protestant church services, having been stripped of all its Catholic decoration. Saenredam may have depicted the large, 15th-century organ so prominently n support of the campaign for the organ to be played every day.




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