Cloak of Love
‘Cloak of Love’ is a ten-part artwork created for the new chapel in the north transept of Nieuwe Kerk Delft – a thirteenth-century landmark and the final resting place for members of the Dutch Royal House. In a space designed for stillness, contemplation, and connection, ‘Cloak of Love’ offers softness and protection; a gesture inspired by Mary offering motherly protection beneath her cloak.
Across the ten artwork panels, a celestial landscape unfolds in shades of blue, grey-white, and deep orange bronze. The colors trace the passage of the day: from the fresh, light blue of the morning light, through a radiant golden midday, to the bronze-hued glow of evening.
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The ethos of protection extends to the careful attention and respect given to the cultivation and application of the natural fibres and biodynamic, plant-based colours in ‘Cloak of Love.’
Wool is one of the oldest textile fibers used for human protection; as early as prehistoric times, woolen cloths and cloaks were crafted to shield people from the elements. Claudy Jongstra's signature Drenthe Heath wool comes from her flock of Drenthe Heath sheep, which plays a vital role in the management and survival of their native heath landscape in the northern Netherlands. The artwork’s vibrant colour palette is derived from historic plant species grown on Jongstra’s biodynamic farm and in partnership with collaborating farmers.
The celestial blue, which references depictions of Mary’s cloak, is created with woad (Isatis tinctoria), an indigenous pigment plant that was the sole source for blue dyeing in Europe until the end of the 16th century. In the Middle Ages, woad was so valuable that it became known as "blue gold." Jongstra has rediscovered and refined the traditional recipes for using woad as a dye, and she works solely with the highest quality Demeter -certified pigments derived from biodynamic cultivation.
The softness and tactility of the artwork bring enveloping warmth amidst the church's historic stone architecture.
Title: Cloak of Love
Location: Nieuwe Kerk van Delft, Delft, NL
Supported by: Mondriaan Fonds
Architect: STIEL architecten
Year: 2026
Dimensions: 10 panels (1,15 x 1,70 m)
Materials: Drenthe Heath wool, Castlemilk Moorit wool, Merino wool, organic silk
Plant-Based Colours: Woad, Coreopsis, Walnut, Madder root, Indigo, Weld
Photography: Jeroen Musch
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Claudy Jongstra maakt kunstwerk 'Mantel van Liefde' voor nieuwe dagkapel | Oude en Nieuwe Kerk Delft
