18th-century handiwork heart, likely made by a nun.

[Ephemera] / [Nun Art]. [Sacred heart with engravings of S. Cecilia, S. Susanna, S. Barbara, and S. Catarina]. S.l. [likely Flanders or northern France]: s.n., s.a. [likely 18th century]. [10.8 x 9.7 cm], cut-out engravings of female martyrs in contemporary hand-color, pasted to a stenciled or block-printed paper heart, which is affixed to a background of blue laid paper. Minor edge wear and toning, the reds fugitive in places.
 
 
Unusual découpage devotional item consisting of four (quite naïve) oval engravings of female martyr-saints—Cecilia, Susanna, Barbara & Catherine—pasted to block-printed or stenciled paper (dominoterie) cut into the shape of a heart, which is in turn backed by blue heart-shaped paper. The cordiform piece probably relates to a devotion to the Sacred Heart and not to secular love.
 
The item, which is consistent with the handiwork of nuns, was acquired in Belgium, and stylistically the engravings would seem to be from Flanders or northern France. It was likely made in the 18th century. Pieces of this sort, exchanged in the convent as gifts or sold to visitors, rarely survive today.