Il vero ritratto del Santissimo Sudario del nostro salvatore Giesu Christo. Reliquia santissima et gran thesoro della serenissima casa di Savoia

S.a. (c. 1578-1604). Torino, a instanza di Bernardino Silva. 390 x 512 mm. Large woodcut, pasted on stronger paper, washed, some damage at folds restored, small piece of paper missing at top right margin restored in facsimile.

Fine and vivid print depicting the Holy Shroud or Shroud of Turin, the image is composed of several woodcuts in black ink, with the image of the Shroud in red ink; this is apparently the only known copy, state unknown. The image conveys a sentiment of veneration towards the relic, which is accompanied by an oration, and small portraits of the Savoy family to whom it belonged.

 

The woodcut was published in Turin between 1578 and 1604 at the instances of “Bernardino Silva”; whilst the documented history of the Shroud dates back to the mid 14^th century, it was in 1578 that the Shroud moved permanently to its current home in Turin, following a fire that damaged it in 1532 in Chambery.

 

The image is bold and even dramatic, it portrays three Popes holding the piece of cloth with the image of Christ in red, interestingly, the image is very similar to one recorded today, which means the engraver was in close contact with the Shroud.

 

Provenance: Libreria Porrua Turanzas, Spain.

 

We are unable to locate another example of this woodcut in OCLC or anywhere else.

S.a. (c. 1578-1604)

$9,000.00