Collezionisti, devoti e mercanti

ENG - Holy pictures collection - Probably it is a form of collecting like the others, but, perhaps, the motivation that induces to accumulate the sacred images is not to be attributed only to the prospect of an economic return for the increasing value over time of the "rarities", but to the research of elements, aesthetic, that increase spiritual participation and attention to fundamental figures of one's Faith. A medieval doctrine considered heretical encouraged its followers to practice iconoclasm and to reject the spread of sacred images by physically destroying the works of art with a religious theme. Nowadays some Christian confessions still do not admit them. Instead, the term iconophilia defines the defense and the passion for the representation of the figures of the Saints or the episodes recounted in the Gospel, as well as the collection of images and liturgical material by scholars and collectors. The oldest examples are even engravings or pages detached from eighteenth-century breviaries, others, called canivet, date back to the time when the paper support was carved or to which lace was applied. Sepia or polychrome the images are the result of the different printing techniques that have occurred over time. The figure of Christ and that of the Madonna appear on the pictures, the Angels the saints and the Blessed on the Santini, in fact the experts invite to call "Santine" only the miniatures in which Jesus and Mary are not represented. Many devotees also keep the souvenir cards, the scapulars and small books related to particular moments of religious life such as baptism, First Communion or Priestly Ordination. Usually on the backside the text of a short prayer or information on the lives of the saints, edifying advice and invocations of protection from misfortune was printed. At the time when the typographic production began in series, the value of the holy cards decreased, but increased the their dissemination. Therefore, it became quite easy to find inside the wallets, handbags, car dashboards and, introduced by apprehensive mothers, between the pages of school books. On the topic there are many catalogs, numerous essays and other elegant editorial products to which an ethno-anthropological and not just religious value must be recognized.