Art Institute of Chicago

Monstrance

Marked by Joseph Moser (born Bohemia [now Czech Republic], active Austria, 1715–1801)

Date

1762

Medium

Gilded silver, semiprecious stones, and glass

Culture

Vienna

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Goldsmith Josef Moser designed this monstrance as a metaphor for Christ’s sacrifice. The base forms a sacrificial pyre for burnt offerings, which emit a heavenly vision of golden smoke, clouds, and light. At the summit God the Father gives his blessing, with the dove of the Holy Spirit below. A bejeweled glass vessel at the center would have held Christ, the Son, embodied as the consecrated bread of the Eucharist, replacing the burnt offerings of old. With the Eucharist placed inside, the monstrance provided the Catholic faithful—who believe the bread transforms into the very being of God—a focus for adoration and prayer.

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