The exhibition, "St. Apollonia, Patron Saint of Dentistry," by the Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry, features art in the museum's collection related to this Patron Saint of Dentistry. As the ecclesiastical writer Eusebius explains, Apollonia was an old woman who fell victim to Roman persecutors of the 3rd century AD in Alexandria, Egypt. Her jaw was battered until all her teeth were knocked out. When pushed to renounce her Christian faith, Apollonia chose instead to martyr herself on a pyre. And thus, on February 9th 249 AD, was born the saint and icon of comfort for any who suffer a toothache.

The exhibit unveils a previously unknown oil portrait showing a youthful St. Apollonia, likely to have been completed by a European artist as part of a church alterpiece. In the 1960s the painting was donated to the School of Dentistry and later was transferred to the Museum. In 2005, this painting underwent treatment by Kenneth Katz, of Conservation and Museum Services in Detroit. Another museum piece is a bronze sculpture completed in 1981 by Carmen M. Nolla depicts St. Apollonia with an angel. Dr. Nolla received an M.S. in Pedodontics from the University of Michigan in 1952.

Research and selection was completed by graduate student fellow in Classical Art and Archaeology, Karen Johnson, 2005.

For detailed views of the artifacts and labels in the St. Appollonia exhibit, click here.