Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs

An intriguing visual history of the veneration in European churches and monasteries of bejeweled and decorated skeletons.

Death has never looked so beautiful. The fully articulated skeleton of a female saint, dressed in an intricate costume of silk brocade and gold lace, withered fingers glittering with colorful rubies, emeralds, and pearls—this is only one of the specially photographed relics featured in Heavenly Bodies.

In 1578 news came of the discovery in Rome of a labyrinth of undergroun...