The Reliquary Effect: Enshrining the Sacred Object - Hardcover

Hahn, Cynthia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1780236557 ISBN 13: 9781780236551

Publisher: Reaktion Books, 2016

Synopsis

From skeletons to strips of cloth to little pieces of dust, reliquaries can be found in many forms, and while sometimes they may seem grotesque on their surface, they are nonetheless invested with great spiritual and memorial value. In this book, Cynthia Hahn offers the first full survey in English of the societal value of reliquaries, showing how they commemorate religious and historical events and, more important, inspire awe, faith, and, for many, the miraculous. Hahn looks deeply into the Christian tradition, examining relics and reliquaries throughout history and around the world, going from the earliest years of the cult of saints through to the post-Reformation response. She looks at relic footprints, incorrupt bodies, the Crown of Thorns, the Shroud of Turin, and many other renowned relics, and she shows how the architectural creation of sacred space and the evocation of the biblical tradition of the temple is central to the reliquary s numinous power. She also discusses relics from other traditions especially from Buddhism and Islam and she even looks at how reliquaries figure in contemporary art.Fascinatingly illustrated throughout, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the enduring power of sacred objects. "

About this title

Review

"Hahn has filled an important gap in scholarship. This book is the first to understand and analyze reliquaries as creations for the stimulation of attention and the capturing of desire. Hahn's supreme knowledge and comprehensive approach enable her to look behind the surface of the reliquary, following its developments over time and drawing some sometimes surprising conclusions. As a contribution to the cross-cultural study of art, The Reliquary Effect shows how we can strengthen our understanding of the origins and foundations of our culture and those of others."--Gerhard Lutz, curator of the Dommuseum Hildesheim

About the Author

Cynthia Hahn is professor of art history and director of graduate studies in art history at Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She is the author or coauthor of several books, including Strange Beauty. "

Edition details

• Publisher: Reaktion Books
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1780236557
• ISBN 13: 9781780236551
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 328