"The Relics" from The Complete Works of Béranger 1836

"The Relics" is a lithograph by French artist J.J. Grandville, created in 1836. The artwork is a satirical commentary on religious relics and the Catholic Church. The central figure is a skeletal Death, dressed in a cardinal's hat and robes, presenting a reliquary to two kneeling figures. The scene is set in an elaborate church interior, emphasizing the theatricality of the ritual. Grandville, known for his grotesque and macabre imagery, utilizes humor and irony to criticize religious hypocrisy.