The Vincentiana collection at the Archives/Special Collections Department of DePaul University’s John Richardson LIbrary has recently acquired this example of a holy card celebrating the centennial (1833-1933) of the foundation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
The image shows Frederic Ozanam ministering to the poor in whom he finds Christ. His work is blessed and inspired by Saint Vincent de Paul.
This holy card is an unusual depiction of Marguerite Naseau (the “first” Daughter of Charity). This image is much more realistic than the traditional image of Marguerite as a young beauty queen. The card is from Belgium and dates from the first half of the 20th century. The Vincentiana collection at DePaul University’s Archives and Special Collections has now added this card to its extensive collections. The quotation from St. Vincent de Paul at the bottom of the card is translated: “I do not remember ever seeing her without being edified.”
The Vincentiana Collection at the Archives and Special Collections of DePaul University’s John T. Richardson Library has recently acquired a portrait of Jean-Francois Paul de Gondi the famous Cardinal de Retz (1613-1679) The Cardinal, who knew Vincent de Paul from his birth served as archbishop of Paris from 1654-1662. He was a famous Frondeur and memorist. The portrait is attributed to the Dutch painter Jan de Bray (1630-1697).
The Vincentiana Collection at DePaul University’s Archives and Special Collections recently acquired this interesting mid-19th century holy card depicting Vincent de Paul blessing his “double family” of the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity, the lay people in the foreground can be presumed to represent members of the Ladies of Charity and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
The legend at the bottom:
“Continuing in his Spirit.”
“Saint Vincent blesses his two families in the name of the charity of Jesus Christ.”
This postcard recently added to the Vincentiana Collections at DePaul University’s Archives and Special Collections depicts part of the famous Convent of the Capucines to which Louise de Marillac was denied admission. The Capucines had arrived in Paris representing the cloistered women of the Capuchin reform which in the previous century had been introduced into the Franciscan order. The large convent was located at the site of the present Place Vendome in Paris. The depiction above is from 1705.
The Vincentiana Collection at DePaul University’s Archives and Special Collections departments typically collects and adds several Vincent de Paul holy cards per week. This collecting has been going on for more than a decade, and there seems to be no end to the variety of these popular iconographic depictions of St. Vincent. This late 19th century example does not have a maker’s mark, but almost all of these cards were produced in Paris. The coloring, embossing, and other features suggest a late 19th century dating.
In the new year the DePaul University Art Museum will host an exhibition guest curated by Rev. Edward R. Udovic, C.M., Ph.D. This special exhibition is titled: “The Many Faces of Vincent de Paul: Nineteenth Century French Romanticism and the Sacred. Sculptures, holy cards, textiles, decorative arts and prints from the university’s collection will explore how Romanticism impacted the iconic representations of Vincent de Paul at the dawn of the modern era.
For more information: http://museums.depaul.edu/exhibitions/the-many-faces-vincent-de-pau…
The Vincentiana Collection at the Special Collections Department at DePaul University recently acquired the memorial card for Sr. Helene Studler, a Daughter of Charity decorated for her work in the French Resistance during World War II.
Here is a link to a 1989 Vincentian Heritage Article:
http://via.library.depaul.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1072&…
There is also a very informative Wikipedia article on Sister Helene.
The Vincentiana Collection at DePaul University’s Archives and Special Collections recently purchased the c. turn of the 20th century photographic pastiche of images from the life of Saint Vincent branded, if you will, with the image of Our Lady of Buglose and the Berceau. The image while primitively done packs a lot of narrative into a small space. Usually these types of cards were amateur productions done when cameras became common enough (and cheap enough) to be taken up as a hobby.