Monday, January 9, 2012

Mohammed being Trampled in 1685

You have to love this beautiful wood carving of Mohammed clutching his Quran being trampled by angels. It dates to 1685, a couple years after the battle of Vienna. The art piece by Mattheus van Beveren is in the Church of Our Dear Lady in Dendermonde, Belgium.

Polish Hussars, some with wings attached to their backs, were led by King Jan Sobieski in this battle against the Muslims. These wings are depicted in a painting of the battle by artist Wojciech Kossak in the late 1800's. The painting entitled "Sobieski at Vienna" is displayed in the Vatican.