Sankt Georgenberg, Austria: the reliquary of the sacred blood of Jesus. Line engraving by J.A. Fridrich, 17--.

The monstrance created in 1719 to house the 14th-century reliquary believed to contain communion wine turned into Christ's blood. The reliquary forms the septum of a heart in the centre of the monstrance. Motifs in various forms show instances of the shedding of Christ's blood. Above the heart, a flaming crown of thorns is held by cherubs, and above the crown, the figure of Christ holding the Cross with blood pouring from the wound in his side into a cup. Top, a roundel showing the circumcision of Christ. Around the body of the vessel, cherubs flying before vines with clumps of grapes. Four of the cherubs hold roundels showing Christ carrying the cross, Christ being crowned with thorns, the flagellation of Christ, and the agony in the garden

Below the heart, the pelican feeds five of its young with blood from its breast. The stem of the monstrance is formed by an archangel (Saint Michael?), who holds the reliquary on his upraised hands. Below him, on the foot of the monstrance, a roundel showing communion

A.V. [Augsburg] : [publisher not identified], [between 1700 and 1799]

1 print : line engraving ; image and border 35.7 x 20.7 cm

Monstranze des Heil Bluete Christi, so sich in dem Kelch bei dem Altar anno 1310, in dem Benedictiner Stift St. Georgenberg in Tirol verwandlet hat und noch aldort verehret wird. Iacob Andre Fridrich sculp. A.V.

Gert Ammann (ed.), Heiltum und Wallfahrt. Katalog der Tiroler Landesausstellung im Prämonstratenserstift Wilten und in der Benediktinerabtei St. Georgenberg-Fiecht, Innsbruck: Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, 1988, p. 211

Wellcome Collection 2029310i