Reliquary Casket of Saints Adrian and Natalia
1100/50
Medium
Silver and oak core
Dimensions
15.9 × 25.4 × 14.5 cm (6 1/4 × 10 × 5 3/4 in.)
Classification
ceremonial object
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
46230
Art Historical Context
This exquisite reliquary casket, crafted around 1100–1150, once held sacred relics of Saints Adrian and Natalia, a Christian couple martyred in the early 4th century under Roman persecution. Adrian, a soldier, converted to Christianity inspired by prisoners' faith, and his wife Natalia supported him until his death; she later succumbed to grief. Such caskets were vital in medieval Europe, serving as portable shrines that inspired devotion during processions, pilgrimages, liturgical ceremonies. Made with a sturdy oak core sheathed in silver, the casket exemplifies Romanesque metalwork techniqu...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...