Engel met de rietstengel, de haan en de doornenkroon

A winged angel looks upward with an expression of sorrowful contemplation, clutching a tall reed used to mock Christ during his trial. In the foreground, the crown of thorns and a cock—symbolizing Saint Peter’s denial—are laid out on a stone sill. The scene is framed by a tasseled, draped curtain, creating a theatrical or visionary setting for the viewer's meditation.

This work belongs to the tradition of the 'Arma Christi' (Instruments of the Passion), which functioned as mnemonic aids for devotional meditation in late 16th-century Europe. The Sadeler family of engravers were central to spreading this type of highly detailed, emotional imagery, which aligned with Jesuit spiritual practices focused on sensory engagement with sacred events.