 | This image of "Christ at the Well" is one example of the popular images on religious themes found in American homes during the 1800s and early 1900s. |
The art that adorned U.S. homes from the 1800s to the early 1900s is the focus of an exhibition celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Institute of Sacred Music (ISM) at Yale. (See related story.)
"The Religious Arts in America" was curated by Virginia Raguin, professor of art history at the College of the Holy Cross. The exhibit is on view through April 27 at the institute, 409 Prospect St.
While there have been numerous works over the centuries on religious themes, writes Raguin, "As reproductive prints, steel and wood engravings and lithographs became less expensive, these images became available to all strata of society. In fact, in the 19th century, the very concept of the 'home' actually necessitated the image." She notes that, even in her description of a slave's home in "Uncle Tom's Cabin," Harriet Beecher Stowe describes a fireplace that is "adorned with some very brilliant scriptural prints."
The publishing firm of Currier and Ives "was but one of the institutions dedicated to the dissemination of the inexpensive image," says Raguin. The firm's works are represented in the exhibition, as are a variety of other types of images documenting both the religious beliefs and the customs of the period.
Raguin will present a talk titled "Art Beyond Museums: The Religious Image and Popular Culture in 19th-Century America," at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 18, in the Great Hall of ISM. A reception will follow.
"Religious Arts in America" is presented with support from the Divinity School. Both the exhibit and the talk are open to the public free of charge. Gallery hours are weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (203) 432-5062 or visit the website at www.yale.edu/ism.
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