Passie en sterven van Christus 1847 - 1891

This bronze medal depicting the Passion and Death of Christ was made by Leopold Wiener in the 19th century. Religious medals like this one were often made in Catholic countries such as Belgium, where Wiener was born, and were worn as a sign of devotion and faith. On one side of the medal, we see the profile of Jesus wearing the crown of thorns, a classical reference to the suffering of Christ and reminder of the pain he suffered. On the other side is a depiction of the Sacred Heart, a potent symbol of Christ's love for humanity, surrounded by other symbols of his Passion, such as the nails and the cross. To fully understand this medal, we might look to the history of religious belief and practice in nineteenth-century Belgium, including its patronage and the social and political role of the church. Only then can we truly appreciate the meaning and significance of this small but powerful object.