50 BULLETIN 148, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



the doors, which depict the Hves of Mary and Jesus, were executed by 

 the Dominican Padre Domenico Partigiani and Angelo Serrano after 

 the designs of Giovanni da Bologna and others about 1602. 23 by 18 

 inches. Italy. (Cat. No. 179093, U.S.N.M.) 



201. Five framed engravings, representing stations of the cross. — 

 Germany. (Cat. Nos. 253226-230, U.S.N.M.) Gift of Mrs. James 

 W. Pinchot. 



202. Wooden die for pictures of the Madonna. — 3)4 by 2% inches. 

 Italy. (Cat. No. 179064, U.S.N.M.) 



203. Leaden die for the picture of St. Romuald (about 950-1027) 

 founder of the Camaldolese order. — Oval, 2y^ by 1% inches. Italy. 



(Cat. No. 179065, U.S.N.M.) 



RELIGIOUS MEDALS 



Religious medals have the object to commemorate persons (Christ, 

 Mary, saints, and angels) and historical events (dogmatic definitions, 

 miracles, anniversaries, dedications, etc.) They are issued by 

 various ecclesiastical authorities and by confraternities as badges 

 and decoration of their members. They are worn by the faithful 

 and believed to be, by reason of their having been blessed by a priest, 

 a means of grace and to possess protective virtues. 



204. Out of about 350 of such medals in the collection of the 

 United States National Museum, 16 are reproduced on the plate. 

 They represent — 1, St. Benedict (480-543), founder of the order of 

 the Benedictines; 2, St. Joseph and the Infant Jesus; 3, the Virgin 

 with the Infant; 4, the Virgin, sm-rounded by rays; 5, Leo. XIII, 

 Pope, 1878-1903; 6, the sacred hearts of the Holy Family (Jesus, 

 Mary, Joseph); 7, head of St. Anastasius, monk and martyr; 8, St. 

 Benedict; 9, St. Louis de Gonzaga (1568-1591), holding a crucifix 

 and a skull; 10, the Trinity; 11, the Holy Family; 12, St. Francis 

 of Assisi (1182-1226), founder of the order of Franciscans; 13, Virgin 

 and the Infant, enthroned; 14, arms of the Capuchins of Milan, 

 Italy, in 1856; 15, St. Joseph with the Infant; 16, the Virgin with the 

 Infant, crowned. Italy. (Plate 20 Cat. No. 179077, U.S.N.M.) 



VOTIVES 



Votive offerings are set up in churches or chapels as a thanksgiving 

 for some signal answer to prayer, resulting in the deliverance from 

 peril or the cure of disease. Usually a likeness of the part of the body 

 healed, in silver or some other material, is put up. The custom was 

 also in vogue among the ancient Greeks and Romans. 



205. Votive oferings. — Made of silver foil. Consisting of models 

 of two hearts, an arm, a pair of eyes, a pair of breasts, a praying 

 woman, and a child. Italy. (Cat. No. 179069, U.S.N.M.) 



