Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index

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Click to view high resolution image Title: St. Veronica Creator: Description: Veronica is identified with a number of women from Christ’s life, including the one who wiped his brow on the way to Calvary. According to legend, the cloth (known as the Sudarium) was miraculously imprinted with Christ’s face. References to the veil occur as early as the fourth century, but the accounts do not make specific reference to Christ’s Passion until the Middle Ages. The Vatican Basilica acquired a cloth supposed to be the Sudarium in the twelfth century, and it was a major goal for pilgrims. The faithful could receive indulgences (reducing time in purgatory or the full remission of sins) for praying before the relic itself or before images of it. Here Veronica displays the holy face to the viewer. The cloth seems to have captured the essence of Christ’s suffering as the image on the veil continues to bleed from the crown of thorns. Below a group of angels on the left read from a scroll, while the group on the right has rolled up the scroll and read a codex, symbolizing the fulfillment of the old covenant through the new (Christ’s sacrifice). This is the obverse side of the right wing of a diptych. Source: Wikimedia Commons Rights: Public domain Subject (See Also): Angels Books Jesus Christ- Passion Scrolls Veronica’s Veil Geographic Area: Low Countries Century: 15 Date: ca. 1420 Related Work: Current Location: Munich, Alte Pinakothek Original Location: Cologne, St. Severin Artistic Type (Category): Digital images; Paintings Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Wood; Tempera; Gold Donor: Height/Width/Length(cm): 48/78/ Inscription: Related Resources:

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