Reliquary bust of a Female Saint

Abstract

This reliquary bust is part of a group of thirteen reliquaries that were enshrined in a cabinet in an unknown church, and are now located in the Museo Diocesano of Teggiano. This painted wood sculpture depicts a female saint. The sculpture is missing its attribute, which makes it difficult to interpret which saint she represents. However, the figure’s left hand is clasped, suggesting she may have once held an object. At the center of the sculpture’s chest is a cavity which would have contained a relic. Relics are bodily fragments of the saint, clothing, or objects touched by the saint. Relics have been venerated and encased in elaborate reliquaries since the early Middle Ages. It is common for early medieval reliquaries to take the shape of box-like containers. This reliquary is a lifelike bust of the saint with their bones on display. The saint appears to be physically present. A question arises: should the relic or the image of the saint be revered by the faithful? Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.