HISTORICAL ANATOMY OF THE IMAGE OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS:

CONTRIBUTIONS TO RESTORATION AND BOTANICAL ORIGIN

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the devotional wooden image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus regarding its current state of conservation and to identify the wood species used in its This study manufacture, providing a basis for restoration efforts and understanding the symbolic significance attributed to the wood employed in sacred art carpentry. In conjunction with
traditional conservation and restoration techniques, radiographic imaging and structural wood analysis were utilized. The wood was identified as cedar (Cedrela odorata – Meliaceae). The analysis of the conservation state of the Sacred Heart of Jesus devotional image, supported by radiographic techniques, revealed the presence of wood pathologies, highlighting the urgent need for intervention to restore the authenticity and original beauty of this historical artifact, thus contributing to the restoration process. This study underscores the importance of preserving religious and historical heritage, as well as the relevance of investigative research grounded in the scientific field of historical anatomy to support restoration practices.