There is a street in Paris called St. Sulpice, and in the late 1800s it was where many holy card makers had their businesses. French artists at the time were astonishingly good, and it seems like everything they touched became beautiful, including holy cards. The main maker of those was Bouasse-Lebel, and they dominated the street. The art at all the other shops became like theirs. The style was given a name in art history, called the St. Sulpice style.

This is a perfect example of that style. It is delicate, graceful, with colors carefully blended. In our opinion, the best French holy cards at the time make the rest of the world's often look clumsy in comparison. For example, we love Mary's halo in this, with just a touch of Art Nouveau in it. Her gestures and expression are just exquisite. The colors are subtle and simply gorgeous. It was a very popular image for Bouasse-Lebel, and we can see why.

As for the title, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus became popular in the mid-1800s, as did a devotion to Mary's Heart. Her Heart was first called "Sacred" at the time because, well, her heart is sacred, but gradually the name of her heart was changed to Immaculate to differentiate between her and Jesus. By the way, you can see the address of Bouasse-Lebel on the card, Rue (Street) St. Sulpice, the way companies today put their websites on products.

** IMPORTANT ** IMAGE IS SMALLER THAN THE PAPER!! There is a white border around the image! .5" for 5x7, 1.3" for 8.5x11, 1.6" for 11x14". Image is smaller than the paper!!!!

- Acid-free paper
- Archival pigments, rated to last for generations.
- Cardboard backer
- Above story of the art
- Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal clear bag.

Thanks for your interest!
Sue & John

"In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art." ~ St. Pope John Paul II

Original image is out-of-copyright. Descriptive text and image alterations (hence the whole new image) © by Sue Kouma Johnson - Classic Catholic Art.