JESUS # 45 - July 23rd


"Jesus Maria Joseph"
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This one is weird. It is dedicated to Pope Leo XIII and dated November 20th 1892, making it some 106 years old as of 2008. Which I think is pretty much for how the thing looks.

Since the date neither refers to the death, birth, start or end of office, I guess it actually does hint at the time of creation. It's not even his birthday, which is in March.

The inscription is therefore probably not connected to him being pope. It reads "Jesus Mary Joseph, enlighten us, help uns, save us, Amen." If the date would have been the inauguration of Leo XIII, this could have meant something entirely different.

The centre piece of this image is a 3D plastic mould, probably made of either polysterene (1839), shellac (1856), parkesine (first presented around 1862) or celluloid (1863).

And it's incredibly ugly, despite the fern and edelweiss.