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Allegory of the Catholic Faith

ca. 1670–72
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 614

This picture, made at a moment when public celebrations of the Mass were forbidden in the Dutch Republic, draws on the complex language of allegory to depict the triumph of the Catholic Church. A woman, representing the church itself, places one foot atop a globe, while in the foreground the cornerstone of the church crushes the serpent of evil. Vermeer converted to Catholicism before his marriage, and this painting, which includes a table laden with chalice, missal, and crucifix, may also refer to the celebration of the Mass in "hidden churches" within private homes. The Crucifixion scene in the background is based on a painting in Vermeer’s collection by the Flemish artist Jacob Jordaens.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Allegory of the Catholic Faith
  • Artist: Johannes Vermeer (Dutch, Delft 1632–1675 Delft)
  • Date: ca. 1670–72
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 45 x 35 in. (114.3 x 88.9 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
  • Object Number: 32.100.18
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

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