What if a 16th-century object of private devotion survived into the 41st millennium?

Matthias Walbaum’s Shrine (1598–1600), created with miniature paintings by Anton Mozart, was designed as a sacred object for private devotion. Its intricate ebony structure, precious metalwork and miniature religious scenes transform a small object into a world of faith.

I reimagined the same object within the universe of the Warhammer 40,000.

Its purpose remains sacred — but what is considered sacred has changed. The central devotional space has become a Sacred Data Archive, an ancient cogitator preserving knowledge revered by the Tech-Priests.

The original form, craftsmanship and ornamental language of Walbaum’s shrine remain at the heart of the piece. I changed its purpose and built the world around it.

Original artwork: Shrine, Matthias Walbaum, 1598–1600, with miniatures by Anton Mozart, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/193632 Link to the canvas https://app.flora.ai/join-project/6e69a53d-8899-483f-8121-865091cad3a4 Created for the FLORA Museum Challenge.