Oval Reliquary With A Watercolor Of The Virgin And Child And A Reliquary Compartment, 18th Century

Oval reliquary dating from the 18th century containing a miniature of the Virgin and Child executed in watercolor on paper and placed under glass. The scene depicts the Virgin holding the Christ Child in a landscape setting. The reverse presents a relic arrangement composed of gilded paper scrollwork surrounding several small relic fragments set on a red textile ground. Around the composition are handwritten inscriptions naming saints, including S. Pancratii, S. Felicis, S. Emerentiana, S. Cypriani, S. Martini, S. Calisti and S. Donati. The whole is set in a silver frame with twisted border and suspension loop.

Details
Dimensions: 7 × 8.2 cm (without the loop) – Materials: silver mount, watercolor on paper, gilded paper filigree, textile and relics under glass – Dating: 18th century.