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Primary sourcePhotograph1897

Thérèse During Her Final Illness

Unknown · 1897

A 1897 photograph of Thérèse lying in bed holding a crucifix during the illness that led to her death.

Documents Thérèse's appearance during the terminal illness that preceded her death in 1897.

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Black-and-white photograph of a young woman in a white nun's veil reclining in a bed with white pillows and a white coverlet, holding a small crucifix in her hands, in front of a dark brick wall.
Unknown photographer, Thérèse during her final illness, 1897.

About this source

What it is

This black-and-white photograph, taken in 1897, shows Thérèse of Lisieux as a young nun reclining in bed, wearing a white veil and holding a small crucifix. It was taken during the illness from which she would soon die.

Why it matters

This is one of the few images of Thérèse from the final months of her life. It documents her condition as a Carmelite sister and is treasured by those who study her life, since she became a major religious figure after her death.

Look closer

  • What does her posture and the objects around her suggest about how she was cared for?
  • Why might someone have chosen to photograph her during her illness?
  • What does this image not tell us about what she was thinking or feeling?

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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