Saint Veronica [obverse] c. 1675

This is Giovanni Martino Hamerani's 'Saint Veronica', a gold pendant with a loop for suspension, made sometime between 1646 and 1705. Hamerani lived during the Baroque period, a time defined by opulence and religious intensity, which profoundly influenced artistic expression. The pendant depicts Saint Veronica, a figure of compassion, who offered her veil to Jesus on his way to the crucifixion, miraculously imprinting his image upon it. Veronica stands here, her face serene, holding up the veil. Consider how this depiction might challenge or reinforce the traditional roles assigned to women in society at the time. The object itself invites us to reflect on the intersection of faith, identity, and representation, and how these themes are materially manifested. In its time, a piece like this would serve not only as an emblem of personal devotion, but also as a statement of cultural identity and spiritual values.