618 - A stained glass panel depicting Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

A stained glass panel depicting Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Clear and coloured glass painted in lead black and polychrome cold enamel, older leading, in a newer wrought iron frame. Central depiction of a man lying on the ground in his armour, with a sceptre and orb beside him. Above him in the heavens, on the upper central bright-red shard, is the inscription: “Die vier großen Rych diser Wällt / darvon Der Prophet Daniel mäldt / Die Nabuc donosor gesen hett / Im troum zu nacht an sinem betth / Eyn gar großes Bild vor im ston / wie die rich werdend zergonn.” On the lower clear disc is the inscription: “OVID HAC ABSENTE IVVANT / Die waaffen nützen nüt die keine hand wil führen / wan wir dor zu kein lust und heldenmuth nit spühren / also glückt sich auch nicht ein vorsatz woll bedacht / wo ihn des höhsten hand und trib nicht fruchtbar macht”. In the upper spandrels, on the left, a depiction of a bearded naked man lying on the ground, inscribed “SVPERBIA NABVCHODONOSOR”; on the right, the scene of Lot with his two daughters. In the lower left corner, inscribed around the Lerber coat of arms: “Daniel Leerber des großen Raths zu Bern 1596”. With some cracks. Height 41 cm; width 35 cm. Attributed to Switzerland/Bern, 1596. This rare depiction of the dreaming Babylonian king is based on various sources, although reference is generally made to the Book of Daniel, chapter 4. Although the dream is interpreted by Daniel/Belshazzar, it takes on a different connotation in the New Testament. The Bernese councillor Daniel Lerber (1569-1648) may be considered as the patron who commissioned the panel. Another panel donated by him in 1630 is held in the church of Münchenbuchsee, north of Bern.