Desecration Collection

St Boniface / Sacred Oak
SAINT BONIFACE (Wynfryth, of Crediton) Bishop of Mainz, missionary and martyr in Germany, destroying the sacred oak of an ancient German god

Dans Peronne Saccagee: La profanation du monument de Catherine de Poix, dite Marie Foure: la statue Creator: Unknown
Dans Peronne Saccagee: La profanation du monument de Catherine de Poix, dite Marie Foure: la statue de l'heroine de la defense de Peronne, en 1563, contre les troupes de Charles-Quint

Miracle of the Profanation of the Host (oil on panel)
XIR240287 Miracle of the Profanation of the Host (oil on panel) by French School, (15th century); Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Saumur

Puritan iconoclasts burning a crucifix taken from a church on the road to Norwich, Norfolk, 17th Century (engraving)
6029804 Puritan iconoclasts burning a crucifix taken from a church on the road to Norwich, Norfolk, 17th Century (engraving) by English School

The Jew of the Rue des Billettes, Paris, desecrating the the Host by piercing it with his knife
6029329 The Jew of the Rue des Billettes, Paris, desecrating the the Host by piercing it with his knife, after a 14th Century stained glass window in the Church of Saint-Alpin, Chalons-sur-Marne

Mummy of Henri IV (1553-1610), King of France, exhumed up by the revolutionaries
CHT164595 Mummy of Henri IV (1553-1610), King of France, exhumed up by the revolutionaries, at the basilique Saint-Denis, 14th-25th October 1793 (engraving) (b/w photo) by French School

Grave robbers stealing from tombs in a funerary chapel in Colombes, Paris (colour litho)
2795950 Grave robbers stealing from tombs in a funerary chapel in Colombes, Paris (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Precursors of Freemasonry: the Knights Templar (engraving)
3100814 Precursors of Freemasonry: the Knights Templar (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Precursors of Freemasonry: the Knights Templar)

Desecration of the Sabbath (colour litho)
3108134 Desecration of the Sabbath (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Desecration of the Sabbath. Le Dimanche profane)

The Monument to the Prince Imperial in Zululand, the Zulu Chief Geboodo swearing to Protect the Memorial
1045483 The Monument to the Prince Imperial in Zululand, the Zulu Chief Geboodo swearing to Protect the Memorial from Desecration (engraving) by Nash

Puritan Soldier preaching (engraving)
2791579 Puritan Soldier preaching (engraving) by Cattermole, George (1800-68) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Puritan Soldier preaching)

Rodney Triumphant, or Admiral Lee-Shore in the Dumps, 1782 (hand-coloured etching)
NCO190187 Rodney Triumphant, or Admiral Lee-Shore in the Dumps, 1782 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Courtesy of the Warden and Scholars of New College

Miravan Opening the Tomb of His Ancestors, 1772. Creator: Valentine Green
Miravan Opening the Tomb of His Ancestors, 1772

AN OFFENSIVE PHOTO
When Russian dancer Tamara Swirskaya is photographed on the steps of the Loggetta del Sansovino, Venezia, there are protests against the desecration of a sacred site Date: 1920

Legend of the Jew of Rue des Billettes, Paris, piercing holy wafer with his knife, 14th century, (18)
Legend of the Jew of the Rue des Billettes, Paris, 14th century, (1870). A Jew allegedly pierced the holy wafer with his knife. Accusations of host desecration gradually ceased after the Reformation

WW1 - A Red Cross dog relieves himself on a German Standard
WW1 - A Red Cross dog in France shows his opinion of the enemy by relieving himself on the fallen German Border post at St Petit Croix (where the Germans crossed the border in 1914) Date: 1915

Isolated damaged buddha statue in Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Ayutthaya, Thailand
archaeological site at Wat Chaiwatthanaram in Ayutthaya historical city, Thailand, Public place

CRUCIFIX TREADING, c1790. Ceremony of Treading on the Crucifix and other Images, at the beginning of the Year, in, Nagasaki, the Imperial City of Japan. Copper engraving, English, c1790

Communards desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary
In a Paris church, shameless communards desecrate a statue of the Virgin Mary

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"Desecration: Unveiling the Dark Side of Human History" Throughout history, acts have left an indelible mark on our collective memory. From the ancient tales to more recent events, these acts reveal humanity's capacity for sacrilege and disregard for sacred spaces. In St Boniface's time, a Sacred Oak stood as a symbol of divine connection until it was felled by those who sought to eradicate pagan worship. The woodcut depicting the Host desecration by Jews in Passau serves as a haunting reminder of religious tensions that plagued medieval Europe. Artistic masterpieces like "Miracle of the Profanation of the Host" capture moments when holy relics were violated, such as during Becket's murder or when Puritan iconoclasts burned crucifixes in Norfolk. These images depict how faith can be challenged and defiled by human hands. The hand-coloured etching titled "Consequences of a Successful French Invasion" sheds light on Ireland's struggle against persecution. It portrays Irish Catholics seeking refuge from oppression, highlighting how even political conflicts can lead to desecration. Intriguingly disturbing is "The Jew of Rue des Billettes, " which shows a stained glass window engraving depicting a Jewish man piercing the Host with his knife. This image reflects historical anti-Semitic sentiments and highlights religious intolerance throughout centuries. Even death does not guarantee peace from desecration; Henri IV's mummified remains were exhumed during revolutionary times, showcasing how political upheaval can disrespect even royal tombs. Similarly, grave robbers depicted in lithographs stole from funerary chapels in Colombes, Paris - reminding us that greed knows no boundaries. Exploring deeper into history reveals precursors to secret societies like Freemasonry - Knights Templar - whose alleged rituals sparked controversy and accusations of blasphemy. Their actions blurred lines between reverence and transgression.