The Holy Face of Jesus - Shroud of Turin 1898 - T-Shirt - Secondo Pia Historic Photographic Negative - Vintage Christian Art

The Holy Face of Jesus - Shroud of Turin, 1898

On May 28, 1898, Italian photographer Secondo Pia photographed the Shroud of Turin, creating the first photographs of the Shroud and one of the most remarkable images in the history of Christian photography.

When Pia developed his photographic plate, something extraordinary became visible.

The faint image on the Shroud behaved much like a photographic negative. On Pia's negative, the light and dark values were reversed, allowing the face on the cloth to appear with striking clarity and giving the world a remarkable new view of the image traditionally associated with the Holy Face of Jesus Christ.

This historic photograph preserves that view.

The aged monochromatic and sepia appearance, visible texture of the linen, marks and folds of the Shroud, photographic grain, and haunting features of the face give this image the unmistakable character of nineteenth-century photography while preserving one of Christianity's most recognizable devotional images.

Beneath the photograph is its historic handwritten Italian inscription:

“Torino. S.S. Sindone - ingrandimento Sacro Volto dal negativo originale.”

Approximately translated:

“Turin. Holy Shroud - enlargement of the Holy Face from the original negative.”

Rather than removing this inscription during preparation, Pastor Reeves Studio has preserved it as part of the historical character of the image.

And featured in my SubStack article "BIBLE CLASS: The Passion Behind the Shroud of Turin," this historic image connects with an evidence-based exploration of the world's most famous, legendary linen and why the Shroud of Turin remains so important to Christians around the world.

Product features
- Medium-weight 100% cotton body (solid colors) with a classic, relaxed fit.
- Tubular knit construction (no side seams) for reduced waste and a clean drape.
- Ribbed, shape-retaining collar and shoulder tape to prevent stretching.
- Crisp, detailed prints using DTF on sleeves/labels and DTG on main art.
- OEKO-TEX(r) certified, tear-away label, ethically sourced US cotton; EU 2-year warranty.

Care instructions
- Non-chlorine: bleach as needed
- Do not iron
- Do not dryclean
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F)
- Tumble dry: low heat