Reliquary Series

Reliquaries have a long and honored presence in Christian history, beginning at least in the 4th century. Saints’ relics and other sacred items have been housed in these cherished repositories in the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican traditions. Similarly, icons, altars and shrines have played an important role. In my travels in Europe and the Middle East, I have come upon many of these treasures and have been profoundly moved by their powerful place in human history.

This series rests upon both the tradition and form of these historical reliquaries. The marvelous jewels nestled within are miniature reproductions of church treasures from around the world. These exquisite historical items include paintings created by old masters who worked from the 7th century. Works by artists including Bottocelli, Rafael, and Ghirlandaio are represented as well as images from the Book of Kells and other illuminated manuscripts. I have also used images from mosaics found in the world's oldest and richest churches. The reliquary forms themselves are constructed from wood and paper, and I have included a variety of found objects as ornamentation. Some of the reliquaries include candles I purchased in Jerusalem, from a shop located next to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The footed reliquaries are deep shadow box constructions, many of which contain 2-3 layers of images emerging from the rear, and are meant to be displayed on pedestals or other elevated surfaces. The wall reliquaries are also in shadow box form, but do not have the same depth as the footed reliquaries, and are meant to be hung. Also included are a series of rubbings I recently created from a series of brass "traveling" icons from 19th century Russia.

footed reliquary

Madonna and Child in a Niche Decorated with Roses by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510), wood, fabric, acrylic, found objects

8" x 12" x 2"

<a data-pin-do="buttonBookmark" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/"></a>

wall reliquary

The Gospel According to the Four Evangelists, Armenian 14th century, wood, fabric, polymer clay, joss paper

footed reliquary

The Madonna of Humility by Lippo di Dalmasio, (1352-1410), glass, wood,fabric, found objects, joss paper, acrylics

8" x 12" x 2"

wall reliquary

Byzantine, from Empress Zoe mosaics, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 11th century, wood, stone, acrylics (in elaborate frame)

9" x 12" x 1"

wall reliquary

mosaic fragment from Istanbul church, wood, fabric, joss paper

5" x 7" x 1"

wall reliquary

The Annunciation with St Marharet and St Ansanus by Simone Martini (1284-1344), fabric, wood, joss paper (in deep wood bowl)

5" x 8" x 3"

footed reliquary

Maesta by Simone Martini, c.1315, wood, fabric, joss paper, found objects, glass, acrylics

8" x13" x 2"

wall reliquary

Victory of St. Michael (detail) by Rafael, 16th century, wood, joss paper, fabric, acrylic, polymer clay

8" x 11" x 1"

wall reliquary

mosaic fragment from Istanbul church, fabric, wood, joss paper, acrylics

5" x 7" x 1"

wall reliquary

The Annunciation with Saint Marharet and St. Ansanus by Cimabue, c. 1270, wood, acrylic, joss paper (in elaborate frame)

9" x 12" x 1"

wall reliquary

Imperial Gate mosaic, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, late 9th-early 10th century, wood, stone, acrylic (in elaborate frame)

9" x 12" x 1"

wall reliquary

detail, Comnnus Mosaic, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, c.1122, fabric, polymer clay, wood, acrylics

5" x 7" x 2"
SOLD

wall reliquary

St John Chrysostom mosaic in the Northern Tympanen, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 12th-13th century, wood, stone, acylics

9" x 12" x 1"

wall reliquary

Mosaic from Imperial Gate, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, late 9th-early 10th century, wood, acrylic, joss paper

8" x 10" x 1"

wall reliquary

St. John Chrstostom mosaic in Northern Tympanen, Ayasofia, Istanbul, 12-13th century, wood, joss paper, acrylics

wall reliquary

Byzantine mosaic from Empress Zoe mosaics, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 11th century, wood, acrylics, joss paper

10" x 12" x 2"

footed reliquary

St. Stephen by Il Francia di Marco Raibolini (1450-1517), page from Book of Kells, Ireland c. 800, wood, fabric, found objects, acrylics

8" x 13" x 2 "

footed reliquary

Two Angels from an Istanbul Church, wood, stone, found objects, acrylics.

8" x 12" x 2"

footed reliquary

detail, Saint from Istanbul Church, wood, acrylic, fabric, joss paper, found objects

8" x 13" x 2"

wall reliquary

detail, St Matthew and St John, encaustic on wood, Coptic, Byzantine period, 7th century. Wood, fabric, acrylics, joss paper

5" x 8" x 2"

Madonna and Child, detail from Istanbul Church, wood, fabric, glass, found objects, acrylic

8" x 12" x 2"

footed reliquary

Madonna and Child, Gentile da Fabriano, 1425, and page from the Book of Kells, wood, fabric, found objects, acrylic

8" x 12" x 2"

wall reliquary

detail from The Gospel According to the Four Evangelists, leather-bound document, Armenium, 13th century, wood, acrylic

footed reliquary

The Annunciation with St. Marharet and St. Ansanus by Simone Martini (1284-1344), page from the Book of Kells, wood, fabric, found objects, acrylic

8" x 12" x 2"

wall reliquary
Detail from Virgin Enthroned with Angels by Cimabue (1295)

12" x 9" x 1"  

wood, joss paper, acrylics, image

footed reliquary
This reliquary features a page from the Book of Kells and an image fragment from the Deesis Mosaic (1261) in Istanbul's Hagia Sofphia, wood, stone tiles, found objects, acrylic paint

8" x 12" x 2"

footed reliquary
Detail from Madonna and Child Enthroned with Angels and Saints. Giotto di Bondone, 1305,
page from The Book of Kells, Jerusalem candles, wood, glass, joss paper, acrylics.
 8" x 12" x 2"

Rubbing of 19th century Russian brass icon
paper, graphite, joss paper

Jesus  8" x 10" matted

Rubbing from 19th century Russian brass icon
paper, graphite, joss paper

St. John  8" x 10" matted

footed reliquary
Image from Theotokos "Directress" mosaic, Sinai 13th century, joss paper, polymer clay, Jerusalem candles, wood, acrylics.

  8" x 12" x 2"

wall reliquary
Detail: Ezekial from Nativity with the Prophets Isaiah and Ezekial. Duccio di Buoninsenga c. 1308, wood, fabric, glass, joss paper.

 5" x 9"

wall reliquary
Detail: Isaiah from Nativity with the Prophets Isaiah and Ezekial. Duccio di Buoninsegna, c. 1308

Hanging Reliquary  5" x 9"

wall reliquary
St. John, detail from Madonna del Ulmita.  Giovanni da Bolgna, (1300s), fabric, wood, glass, joss paper.

 5" x 10"

wall reliquary
Detail from The Virgin and Child Enthroned Surrounded by Angels. Cimabue c. 1270, fabric, joss paper, wood, acrylic

8" x 13" x 1"

Rubbing from 19th century Russian brass icon
paper, graphite, joss paper

Jesus (2)  8" x 10" matted

wall reliquary
St. Francis.  Giovanni da Milano (1320-1369), paper, fabric, joss paper, acrylic, wood

5" x 9"

Rubbing from 19th century Russian brass icon

Mary (2), paper, graphite, joss paper  8" x 10" matted

footed reliquary
Madonna and Child Enthroned with Angels and Saints. Giotto di Bondone, 1305, metal, glass, wood, Jerusalem candles, joss paper, acrylics
Footed Reliquary  8" x 12" x 2"

footed reliquary
image from Fillipo Lippi painting, page from The Book of Kells, wood, joss paper, glass, Jerusalem candles
8" x 12" x 2"

footed reliquary
Adoration of the Magi, Domenico Ghirlandaio, c. 1488, wood, joss paper, metal, Jerusalem candles, glass, acrylic
8" x 12" x 2"

Rubbing from 19th century Russian brass icon

(Mary), paper, joss paper, graphite.
  8" x 10" matted

wall reliquary
detail from St Catherine of Alexandria and St. Dominic. Carlo Crivelli (1430-1494), wood, fabric, joss paper, acrylic

5" x 9"

Rubbing from 19th century Russian brass icon

Mary (3), paper, graphite, joss paper
  8" x 10" matted

Rubbing from 19th century Russian brass icon

St. John (2)  paper, graphite, joss paper
 8" x 10" matted