Clandestine Splendor, Paintings for the Catholic Church in the Dutch Republic

This book gives a survey of Catholic North Netherlandish history painting during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, against the background of a richly variegated Counter Reformation culture which flourished in the Protestant ruled country. While the civilian government of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands had chosen Calvinism and forbidden the celebration of Mass, a not inconsiderable part of the Dutch population remained Catholic. Along with their spiritual leaders, the believers set up a network of clandestine churches hidden behind the walls of houses and industrial buildings.