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Primary sourcePhotographOriginal: 30 August 1896; This version: 1940

Thérèse Scattering Roses on Her Crucifix

Office de Lisieux · Original: 30 August 1896; This version: 1940

An engraving based on a photograph of Thérèse of Lisieux taken in the convent cloister in 1896, showing her with a crucifix and rose petals.

A photograph of Thérèse herself near the end of her life, later engraved and published in her autobiography.

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Sepia photograph of a young woman in a dark veil reclining on a chaise longue under a brick archway, holding a small crucifix with rose petals scattered on a blanket. Ivy leaves fill the lower left. Handwritten inscription at bottom right.
Office central de Lisieux, Thérèse effeuillant des roses sur son crucifix, original photograph 30 August 1896, engraving published 1940.

About this source

What it is

This engraving, printed in a 1940 edition of Thérèse of Lisieux's autobiography, is based on a photograph taken in the convent cloister on 30 August 1896. It shows Thérèse reclining with a small crucifix, scattering rose petals around it.

Why it matters

The image was taken late in Thérèse's life within the convent, and its reproduction in later editions of her book helped spread a particular image of her—gentle, devout, and surrounded by roses, a symbol often associated with her memory. It shows how photographs of her were used after her death to shape her public image.

Look closer

  • What mood does the image create through the pose, setting, and roses?
  • Why might this photograph have been chosen for reproduction in her book?
  • What does the handwritten inscription suggest about how the photograph was originally labeled?

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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Front cover of a French book titled 'Sainte Thérèse de l'Enfant-Jésus' in ornate Art Nouveau style with floral borders, a star at top, an oval illustration of saints and an angel, a quotation, and Latin motto banners at the bottom.Book

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The Story of a Soul

Thérèse of Lisieux · 1898

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Act of Oblation to Merciful Love

Thérèse of Lisieux · 9 June 1895

Black and white photograph of a young woman in a dark religious veil and white collar, with a calm, slight smile, looking toward the camera. Her face fills most of the frame.Photograph

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Portrait of Thérèse of Lisieux

15 April 1895

Black and white photograph of a young woman in a pale armored-style bodice and dark fleur-de-lis-decorated skirt, holding a sword, standing beside a banner pole in front of a brick wall and ivy, with a shield bearing fleurs-de-lis and a wreath at her feet.Photograph

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Photograph of Thérèse as Joan of Arc

Céline Martin (Sister Geneviève) · 1895

Photograph of a book cover with a marbled brown and tan speckled paper binding and a beige cloth spine, with blue flecks. A small library credit in the lower right reads Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France. The cover appears worn at the edges.Book

Primary source

Histoire d'une âme, first edition (1898)

Thérèse of Lisieux, ed. Pauline Martin (Mother Agnes of Jesus) · 30 September 1898

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