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Primary sourcePhotograph1897

Thérèse After Her Death

Unknown · 1897

A post-mortem photograph of Thérèse taken at the Carmel of Lisieux in 1897, surrounded by flowers.

A post-mortem photograph taken at the Carmel of Lisieux documenting Thérèse's death in 1897.

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Black and white photograph of a woman lying with eyes closed, dark veil framing her face, surrounded by white flowers including lilies and a wreath of white blossoms.
Unknown photographer, Thérèse after her death, Carmel of Lisieux, 1897.

About this source

What it is

This is a black-and-white post-mortem photograph of Thérèse of Lisieux, taken in 1897 at the Carmel of Lisieux shortly after her death. It shows her lying with eyes closed, wearing a dark veil, surrounded by white lilies and a wreath of blossoms.

Why it matters

Post-mortem photography was a common practice in the nineteenth century to preserve the memory of the deceased. This image became an important relic-like record for the Carmelite community and for the devotion that grew around Thérèse after her death.

Look closer

  • Why might the Carmelite sisters have chosen to photograph her this way, surrounded by flowers?
  • What does the care taken in this image suggest about how she was regarded by her community?
  • How does this kind of photograph compare with how we remember people today?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Saint Therese on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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