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Miraculous crucifix discovered inside chopped firewood. Unrecorded etching.

[Miraculous Crucifix] / [Ephemera]. Abbildung Jene wunderbahrlichen Creütz, welches den 25. Julÿ 1742 beÿ der Königl. Armes in Boheim zu Motol in einen Erlenen Stockh gefunden worden. Da nemlich deß :Tit: H: General Graf v[on] Stahremberg sein Knecht brennholtz zu hauen abgeschiickt worden, hauete und zerspaltete selber einen Erlenen Stockh, fande aber in mitte des selbigen auf beÿden seiten ein Spanisches oder Hungarisches Creütz, so gantz schwartz in den rothlichen erlenen holz unterschiden war, auf selben hange in braunlechter farb die erhobene Figur des gekreüzigten Heÿlands, dessen lincke hand etwas höher als die rechte ausgestrecket ist. Vienna “Wienn, zu finden in Fisch:Hof”: s.n., s.a. [likely 1742 or shortly thereafter]. [12.3 x 7.1 cm], [1] f. etching. Very minor staining, toning, and dustiness, narrow margins.

 

 

Unrecorded 18th-century etching depicting a miraculous crucifix discovered inside a piece of firewood on 25 July 1742.

 

The German text in translation reads, “Illustration of that miraculous cross, which was found on July 25th in an alder log near the Royal Army in Boheim zu Motol [in Prague]. When General Count von Stahremberg’s servant was sent to chop firewood, he chopped and split an alder stump, but found in the middle of it on both sides a Spanish or Hungarian cross, completely black, set against the reddish alder wood, and on the same surface, in light brown, the raised figure of the crucified Christ, whose left hand was stretched out rather higher than his right hand.”

 

This devotional-miraculous subject is not commonly seen, and the event must have remained in the public mind only for a short time.

 

I find no other copies of this etching, but a similar print is preserved in the Moravian Library in Brno (sig. R-R 33).

    $950.00Price
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