Images of Medieval Art and Architecture
The Treasure of Saint Denis

Bust Reliquary of Saint Hilaire with Cameo of Augustus


Images

Félibien's Engraving of Entire Reliquary

Sole Extant Fragment

Adapted from Félibien, Plate II, Item A

Click here for a larger version

Adapted from Babelon(1887), pl XLIX

Click here for a screen-sized version


Texts


Description

Bust of gold vermeil in which is enclosed the head of Saint Hilaire, bishop of Poitiers, father and doctor of the Church. The mitre is entirely covered with pearls and gems, as is the orfroy that is around the neck of the figure. Most of all, one should notice a brooch, on which is represented Caesar Augustus. Also in this reliquary is a bone from the same Saint Hilaire, which can be seem in in a crystal across the front. This reliquary was made by the religious people of Saint-Denis after the troubles over the League. (ca 1606)

Félibien, pages 538. Translated by Jane Vadnal.


Subsequent History


Notes

Cameo


Related Material

Other head reliquaries in the Treasure of Saint Denis.
The life of Saint Hilaire.


Bibliography

Félibien, pages 430, 538.

Mostesquiou-Fezensac, I and II, no. 328.;III, 6-7,34-6,102.

For only the Cameo of Augustus:

Babelon, (1887), p. 180, pl. XLIX.

Conway, (1915), 133. Click here to see text.

Louvre, no. 61, pp 282-3.

Mostesquiou-Fezensac, I and II, no. 328;III, p 102-3, pl. 91.


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SAINT-DENIS
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Created by J Vadnal, July, 1998