The weight of a metal cross on the neck. The feeling of parchment in the hand. The taste of bread on the tongue. Through these everyday sensory encounters, Eastern Christian icons engage the faithful beyond visual aesthetics.

The Art of Devotion examines how religious items of diverse origins utilize common visual language to activate a shared spirituality. The objects on this website date from the sixth to the twentieth century and come from Christian Orthodoxies in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa — all influenced by the artistic legacy of the Byzantine Empire. When we remove these artifacts from their original context, it begs the question: how do we encounter these objects at Kenyon today?

The students of ARHS 291 Museum Object have curated this exhibit with guidance from Professor Brad Hostetler, using objects drawn primarily from the Blick-Harris Study Collection in the Department of Art History. Special thanks go to Special Collections and Archives for the use of the Bulmash Exhibition Hall, and to Elizabeth Williams-Clymer for curatorial support.

The exhibition will remain on display through December 2022.