ticketsMember | Make a donation

Reliquary Bust of a Female Saint

ca. 1520–30
On view at The Met Cloisters in Gallery 16
Bust reliquaries for the skulls of saints were placed on or near altars and, by the late Middle Ages, often assembled in large numbers in church sanctuaries. The small glazed medallion resembling jewelry once displayed additional relics. On particular feast days, such reliquaries were carried in processions.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Reliquary Bust of a Female Saint
  • Date: ca. 1520–30
  • Geography: Made in possibly Brussels, Belgium
  • Culture: South Netherlandish
  • Medium: Oak, paint, gilt
  • Dimensions: Overall: 16 11/16 x 12 3/4 x 6 1/4 in. (42.4 x 32.4 x 15.9 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture-Wood
  • Credit Line: The Cloisters Collection, 1959
  • Object Number: 59.70
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Reliquary Bust of Saint Balbina, Oak, with paint and gilding, and human remains, South Netherlandish
Reliquary Bust of Saint Balbina
South Netherlandish
ca. 1520–30
Reliquary Bust of a Female Saint, Oak, painted and gilded, and human remains, South Netherlandish
Reliquary Bust of a Female Saint
South Netherlandish
early 16th century
Annunciation Triptych (Merode Altarpiece), Robert Campin Netherlandish, Oil on oak, Netherlandish
Annunciation Triptych (Merode Altarpiece)
Robert Campin
ca. 1427–32
Asian King from an Adoration Group, Poplar with paint and gilding, German
Asian King from an Adoration Group
German
before 1489
African King from an Adoration Group, Poplar with paint and gilding, German
African King from an Adoration Group
German
before 1489

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.