Reliquary
ca. 1500 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In the medieval period, the bones and body parts of saints, as well as fragments of their possessions, were all known as relics. They were kept in a shrine, or in special containers called reliquaries whose design sometimes evoked the relic itself. Both shrines and reliquaries were lavishly decorated with gold, silver, enamels and precious stones.
This realistically modelled reliquary is now empty, but it probably once held a relic of the saint’s head. His name, San Gennaro, is inscribed on the frame of the moonstone on the head. St Januarius (as he is called in English) was a bishop of Benevento in southern Italy. He was martyred about 305 and his relics are housed mainly in Naples Cathedral.
This realistically modelled reliquary is now empty, but it probably once held a relic of the saint’s head. His name, San Gennaro, is inscribed on the frame of the moonstone on the head. St Januarius (as he is called in English) was a bishop of Benevento in southern Italy. He was martyred about 305 and his relics are housed mainly in Naples Cathedral.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Copper gilt and moonstone |
| Brief description | Copper gilt reliquary, Head of Saint Januarius, set with a moonstone. Switzerland or Germany, ca.1500-50 |
| Physical description | Copper- gilt, forming a head or bust of St Januarius, of small life- size; on the forehead is set a large moonstone. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Reliquary Head of St Januarius
In the medieval period, the bones and body parts of saints, as well as fragments of their possessions, were all known as relics. They were kept in a shrine, or in special containers called reliquaries whose design sometimes evoked the relic itself. Both shrines and reliquaries were lavishly decorated with gold, silver, enamels and precious stones.
This realistically modelled reliquary is now empty, but it probably once held a relic of
the saint's head. His name, San Gennaro, is inscribed on the frame of the moonstone on the head. St Januarius (as he is called in English) was a bishop of Benevento in southern Italy. He was martyred about 305 and his relics are housed mainly in Naples Cathedral.
Switzerland or Germany, about 1500-50
Copper gilt, set with a moonstone
Museum no. 380-1854(27/10/2005) |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | In the medieval period, the bones and body parts of saints, as well as fragments of their possessions, were all known as relics. They were kept in a shrine, or in special containers called reliquaries whose design sometimes evoked the relic itself. Both shrines and reliquaries were lavishly decorated with gold, silver, enamels and precious stones. This realistically modelled reliquary is now empty, but it probably once held a relic of the saint’s head. His name, San Gennaro, is inscribed on the frame of the moonstone on the head. St Januarius (as he is called in English) was a bishop of Benevento in southern Italy. He was martyred about 305 and his relics are housed mainly in Naples Cathedral. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 380-1854 |
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| Record created | March 18, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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