Oak Reliquary Bust Probably Of Saint Bruno From The 17th Century

Reliquary bust from a French or Italian school from the end of the 17th century or the very beginning of the 18th century.

This is the representation of Saint François de Sales, who died in Lyon in 1622 in the odor of Saintété. He was quickly canonized and then proclaimed a Doctor of the Church.
Co-founder of the Order of the Visitation of Mary, he is the Patron Saint of journalists and writers.

Our bust is in oak sculpted in the round, gilded and formerly polychromed. It opens on the back with an iron door with a lock but for which we do not have the key, allowing the deposit and protection of the relic which was deposited there.

A reliquary medallion, probably brought back, is still there. it is embroidered with a Radiant Glory surrounded by the crown of the Passion. At its top is the relic.

???????We have a particular attachment to this reliquary, because our gallery is in a fortified house which for a long time belonged to the Sisters of the Visitation. It depends on the Monastery of the visitation of the oaks, in Lyon.