Pastoral Staff Collection

Saint Valentine, Saint Stephen and Saint Maximilie, 16th century (engraving)
7415654 Saint Valentine, Saint Stephen and Saint Maximilie, 16th century (engraving) by Burgkmair, Hans (c.1473-1531); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

The Industrial Arts during the Middle Ages (engraving)
8644838 The Industrial Arts during the Middle Ages (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Industrial Arts during the Middle Ages)

St. Augustine, in bishop's dress, is seated between two youth, with an open book resting on his knees;they are
3561268 St. Augustine, in bishop's dress, is seated between two youth, with an open book resting on his knees;they are surrounded by festive angels

St Hugh of Lincoln and St Benedict of Nursia. Creator: Gherardo di Jacopo
St Hugh of Lincoln and St Benedict of Nursia, Unknown date

Saint Nicholas, 1563. Creator: Jacques de Poindre
Saint Nicholas, 1563

Portrait of Abbot Nicholas à Spira, 1563. Creator: Jacques de Poindre
Portrait of Abbot Nicholas a Spira, 1563

Saint Willibald (recto); Christ on the Cross (verso), Printed 1517. Creator: Unknown
Saint Willibald (recto); Christ on the Cross (verso), Printed 1517. From Missal of Eichstatt

Saints Christophorus and Erasmus, each with a coat of arms, 1510-1550. Creator: Sebald Beham
Saints Christophorus and Erasmus, each with a coat of arms, 1510-1550. Erasmus is holding his entrails wound on a windlass. Possibly by Hans Sebald Beham

St Louis of France, 1481-1502. Creator: Vittore Crivelli
St Louis of France, 1481-1502

Matthaeus Yrsselius (1541-1629), Abbot of Sint-Michiel's Abbey in Antwerp, 1622-1625. Creator: Peter Paul Rubens
Matthaeus Yrsselius (1541-1629), Abbot of Sint-Michiel's Abbey in Antwerp, 1622-1625. (Commissioned an altarpiece depicting the Adoration of the Magi from Rubens)

Esquisse pour l'église de Fontenay-sous-Bois : La Consécration de sainte Geneviève, 1874. Creator: Eugène Médard
Esquisse pour l'eglise de Fontenay-sous-Bois : La Consecration de sainte Genevieve, 1874. Sketch for the church of Fontenay-sous-Bois (Val-de-Marne). The Consecration of St Genevieve

Saint Martin of Tours Healing the Servant of Tetrodius, c. 1630. Creator: Jacob Jordaens
Saint Martin of Tours Healing the Servant of Tetrodius, c. 1630

Saint Augustine. Creator: Hans Springinklee
Saint Augustine

Pope Embraced by Devil, n.d. Creator: Unknown
Pope Embraced by Devil, n.d. Style of John Hamilton Mortimer

Saints Maximilian, Stephen, and Valentine, 1514. Creator: Wolf Traut
Saints Maximilian, Stephen, and Valentine, 1514

Sketch for the church of Dugny (Seine-Saint-Denis): Saint Denis, c.1872. Creator: Jean Louis Victor Viger
Sketch for the church of Dugny (Seine-Saint-Denis): Saint Denis, c.1872. (Esquisse pour l'eglise de Dugny : Saint Denis)

Portrait of an Abbess (of the House of Bourbon?), between 1701 and 1800. Creator: Unknown
Portrait of an Abbess (of the House of Bourbon?), between 1701 and 1800

The "Ansidei Madona", after Raphael, 1891. Creator: Unknown. The "Ansidei Madona", after Raphael
The "Ansidei Madona", after Raphael, 1891. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper", Volume 44. July to December, 1891

Pan American Mass. Cardinal Gibbons, 1912. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Pan American Mass. Cardinal Gibbons, 1912
Pan American Mass. Cardinal Gibbons, 1912. [Roman Catholic service held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Washington, D.C.]

Cardinal Wiseman, Preaching, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Cardinal Wiseman, Preaching, 1850. The ceremonial prescribed by the Roman Catholic Church for the induction of an Archbishop to his see was performed at the church of St

Bestowing solemn honours upon the Abbot Silvestri in Trevignano Romano. The institutional and religious authorities are portrayed in tailor's shop balcony. Trevignano Romano

Eugenio Pacelli, legate to the pope at an international eucharistic congress in Budapest Hungary Budapest. Date of Photograph:12/05/1938

Enthroned Madonna with Child and Four Saints. Work by Perugino, at the Vatican Painting Gallery in Vatican City State of the Vatican City Pinacoteca Vaticana Altarpiece High Renaissance, Renaissance

Painting by Bernardo Fungai with the Madonna and Child enthroned and Saints. The work is in the Pinacoteca Nazionale in Siena Siena Painting Late Renaissance, Renaissance

Full-length portrait of a Bishop. He is posing in the studio in the act of giving a blessing. Date of Photograph:1919-1921

Sant'Egidio or Saint Giles; miniature by Bartolomeo di Fruosino. Museum of S. Marco, Florence Illumination Early Renaissance, Renaissance, Renaissance-Baroque styles and periods, Europe

A bishop's throne made of carved wood, in the Cathedral of Pisa Pisa Cathedral Bishop's Throne Renaissance, Renaissance-Baroque styles and periods, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D

Statue depicting St. Abbondio flanked by two episodes of his life. Detail of the carved wooden altarpiece by the workshop of Giovan Angelo del Maino

Statue depicting St. Abbondio flanked by Stories of his life. Detail of the carved wooden altarpiece by the workshop of Giovan Angelo del Maino

Tommaso Orsolino's marble antependium with Saint Bruno in adoration found in Pavia's Carthusian Monastery. Certosa di Pavia Carthusian Monastery Low Relief, Basrelief Baroque

Marble altar with the stories of St. Abbondio located at the base of the wooden altarpiece by the workshop of Giovan Angelo del Maino. Cathedral, Como

Virgin with Child and Saints. Altar piece in glazed terracotta by Andrea della Robbia located inside the Oratory of Our Lady of the Good Counsel in Prato

Detail of the main Portal of the Certosa of Pavia with figures of a bishop and some prelates. Certosa di Pavia gate Low Relief, Basrelief High Renaissance, Renaissance

Statue of Saint Jacob from the Dossal of Saint Jacob found in Pistoia's Cathedral. Pistoia Cathedral Statue Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1890 ca

Mosaic with the enthroned virgin between Saint Gennaro and Saint Restituita: work kept in the Cathedral of Naples. Naples Cathedral Mosaic Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe

"Living picture": The elaborate plastic composition shows a man dressed as a bishop, holding the crosier in his hands, standing before the altar

Bas-relief of the holy water basin of the Cathedral of Palermo, depicting a baptismal scene, and in the background a view of the city

Monument to Paul V, begun by Nicolas Cordier and finally cast by Sebastiano Sebastiani years later. Piazza Cavour, Rimini Rimini Piazza Cavour Monument Baroque

Madonna with Child and Saints. Preparatory drawing by Gaudenzio Ferrari, preserved in the Royal Library, Royal Palace, Turin, Piedmont Turin Royal Palace, Royal Library Drawing High Renaissance

Virgin with Child, Saints and a worshipper. Preparatory drawing by Gaudenzio Ferrari, preserved in the Royal Library, Royal Palace, Turin, Piedmont Turin Royal Palace

Monument of the archbishop Remigio enthroned among the vestments in the Church of San Remigio, Fosdinovo Fosdinovo Church of San Remigio in Fosdinovo Statue Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe

Monument to Cardinal Gregorio Nano, in the Church of S. Maria Sopra Minerva, Rome. Rome Santa Maria sopra Minerva Church Funerary Monument Baroque, Renaissance-Baroque styles and periods, Europe

S. Simpliciano, Basilica of S. Giovanni in Laterano, Rome. Rome Basilica of S. Giovanni in Laterano, cloister Statue High Renaissance, Renaissance, Renaissance-Baroque styles and periods, Europe

Polychromatic statue of San Zeno known as "Laughing St.Zen", basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, Verona Verona San Zeno church Mural Painting Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe

Wooden tarsia with St. Zanobi and his disciples, in the Sacristy of Masses, in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

Embossed silver binding of St. Mark's Gospel (verso): Crucifixion, and St. Peter giving the crosier to the bishop Hermagoras introduced by St. Mark. Venetian work, in the Treasury of St

The sepulcher of Monsignor Agostino Albergotti, carried out by Edoardo Maratta. The Madonna between the angels is the work of the Robbian School

Tomb of St. Prosdocimus, marble sarcofagus with an antependium depicting the saint, by Giovanni Francesco de Surdis, in the Church of Santa Giustina, Padua Padua Church of Santa Giustina

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The pastoral staff, a symbol of authority and guidance in the ecclesiastical world, has a rich history that spans centuries. From its humble beginnings to its ornate designs, this emblematic object holds great significance. In the 16th century, engravings of Saint Valentine, Saint Stephen, and Saint Maximilie showcased their virtuous connection with the pastoral staff. These depictions highlighted their roles as shepherds of faith and exemplified their devotion to leading their flocks. One notable engraving captured the momentous occasion when the Bishop of London was presented with a pastoral staff at Sion College. This event marked an important milestone in his spiritual journey and emphasized his responsibility to guide his congregation towards righteousness. Throughout history, various artists have immortalized saints wielding pastoral staves in stunning works such as the Retable of Saints Athanasius, Blaise, and Agatha by Master of Riglos. The intricate details on these pieces reflect not only artistic skill but also reverence for those who carried this sacred instrument. Bernardo Strozzi's depiction of St. Gerardo Sagredo holding a pastoral staff showcases how bishops from different regions embraced this symbol across time and space. Similarly, Giuseppe Caletti's portrayal captures another sainted bishop from the Benedictine order during the early 17th century. The power attributed to this symbolic tool is further illustrated through ancient manuscripts like Codice Edili 107 where San Zanobi raises a boy from death using his pastoral staff. Such stories emphasize not only divine intervention but also highlight how these objects were believed to possess extraordinary powers. Engravings depicting Pastoral Staffs for Bishops of Carlisle and Central Africa showcase regional variations in design while still upholding its fundamental purpose - guiding souls towards salvation. These engravings demonstrate that despite geographical differences or cultural nuances, faith remains universal. Illuminated initials featuring bishops blessing churches remind us that even in the written word, the pastoral staff's significance is not lost.