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Richard de Beer Wins Karel van Mander Prize for Publication on Catholic Vestments

The Vereniging van Nederlandse Kunsthistorici (Dutch Association of Art Historians) has awarded its annual Karel van Mander prize to Richard de Beer. The prize has been awarded to outstanding art-historical publications since 1958. This year, the Curator of Heritage of the Old Catholic Church at Museum Catharijneconvent received the award for his dissertation Kerkgewaden in de verdrukking: Paramenten in de Republiek als dragers van identiteit, 1580-1650 (2023). The publication also formed the basis for the exhibition Fashion for God, which was on display in the fall of 2023 at the Catharijneconvent in Utrecht.

In his dissertation, Richard de Beer explores the world of vestments made for Catholic worship in the Netherlands between 1580 and 1650. After the Reformation, these richly ornamented garments, often crafted by women, became a way to express one’s identity in times of oppression. According to the jury, this study fills an important gap in the knowledge of both art and church history in the Netherlands. It also shows that these objects provide interesting insights into contemporary research questions, such as the contributions of women in the arts.

For the complete jury report, see the VNK-website (in Dutch).

Richard de Beer, Kerkgewaden in de verdrukking: Paramenten in de Republiek als dragers van identiteit, 1580-1650 (2023)