Four Polychromed Reliquary Busts from Eighteenth Century Como

Reliquary busts are one of my favourite objects of liturgical art where the altar is concerned. To my mind, they not only are beautiful 'houses' for the relics they contain, they also help to make these relics more 'incarnate' and tangible,  reminding us of the person to whom these relics are attached. It brings them to life so speak.

Reliquary busts most typically come in metallic gold and silver colours, and typically these are constructed as wooden objects that are then gilt (which is far more practical both in terms of cost and also in terms of their weight as these reliquaries are typically over 24" in height).  The reliquaries we shall be looking at today, however, come in the far less common, fully coloured variety,. They were made in eighteenth century Como,  and they are of Ss. Adriano, Abbondio, Magno and Silvano.

These saints are likely unfamiliar to many readers, so here is a brief explanation of who each are:

S. Adriano (St. Hadrian of Nicomedia) - Martyr (died A.D. 306)

S. Abbondio (St. Abundius) - Fourth Bishop of Como (died A.D. 564)

St. Magno (St. Magnus) - Archbishop of Milan (died A.D. 530)

S, Silvano (St. Silvanus) - There have been a few saints with this name, so I will not hazard a guess as to whose these might be. 

S. Adriano

S. Abbondio

S. Magno

S. Silvano

For those not familiar with how reliquary busts like these are utilized, they are most popular within Italy, and they typically are set on the gradine of an altar between the candlesticks. Alternatively, they might be set out in other prominent places within the church for the veneration of the faithful on the saint in question's feast day, or for the veneration of the relics on All Saints Day. 

A display of relics in their reliquaries for All Saints Day

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