Pilgrimage in Art History

Looking back on the AP Art History 250, the aspect of pilgrimage is one that provides a distinctive form and function to religious practices and architecture. This blog post is based on a review activity I had my students do where they were given a topic and had to use all their index cards to sort & defend pieces into that category.

Here are some of the most notable works of art connected to pilgrimage in the AP Art History 250:

Content Area 5: Chavín de Huántar, Peru

Most pilgrimage sites are located at some holy ground and Chavin is no different; it lies in a valley at the confluence of two great rivers in between sacred mountains. Unlike most pilgrimage sites that encourage large masses, this one has an inner sanctuary that specifically restrictive. Chavin’s most sacred stone, the Lanzon, is hidden in a maize-like structure that is described as feeling like a cave, with no natural light at all. Also, the building is not built up like many structures that hope to be the tallest or biggest building in the area, it’s courtyard is sunk into the ground so that it does not compete with the surrounding landscape.

Oh, and Chavin is a UNESCO Site 🙂

Content Area 7: The Kaaba, Saudi Arabia

This is probably the most famous of all pilgrimage sites. The Kaaba is located in Mecca. The city can actually only be entered by Muslims; something I greatly lament but completely respect and understand. The Kaaba integrated with two of the Five Pillars of Islam. The haijj, a  multi-day pilgrimage to Kaaba, is a trip that all Muslims must complete at least once in their life (if able) and Muslims face the Kaaba as they pray five times a day. Interestingly enough, the Kaaba is actually a pre-Islamic site but gained importance to Islam when Muhammad threw down the idols located there.

Read more on the JSTOR Daily Blog “Following Haajar’s Footsteps to a Feminist Reading of Islam” & “How European Empires Helped Shape the Hajj“

Content Area 3: Church of St. Foy, France

This church is the AP Art History poster-child of a medieval pilgrimage. The Church of St. Foy is part of the Romanesque style of architecture. This was a volatile time in Europe in which pilgrims were heading in droves to sacred sites to view and touch relics of saints (and even some of Christ himself). This church grew around a relic of St. Foy, who was a 12-year martyr from the 4th century. Pilgrimages also changed the architecture of Christian churches because they had to become bigger (for larger crowds) and provide walkways for pilgrims to visit the relics, notably extra aisles and an ambulatory around the altar that connects to the radiating chapels, filled with saint relics.

Read more: Student Series! Medieval Pilgrims

 

Content Area 3: Chartres Cathedral, France

Chartres Cathedral continues the medieval pilgrimage tradition of the Romanesque period which literally exploded during the Gothic period. Churches grew astronomically upwards and outwards as engineering technologies improved. The Church of Chartres has the distinction of containing the veil that the Virgin Mary wore while giving birth to Christ (I am more than skeptical of this, but it was a very real relic to medieval peoples and many people today). Consequently artworks of the Virgin are prominent in this church.

Anndddd Chartres is a UNESCO Site 🙂

Read more: Student Series! Chartres Cathedral

Content Area 7: Jowo Rinpoche, Tibet

Although not a work of architecture like the other pilgrimage sites listed above, the Jowo Rinpoche is an extremely sacred Buddhist relic from the Jokhang Temple. Many people believe it to be one of the oldest statues of the Buddha, based off a portrait of the historical Buddha himself. The statue is decked out in gold, precious stones, and rich fabrics. The statue was meant to serve as a proxy to the Buddha after his enlightenment.

Jokhang Temple is part of the Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa, which is a UNESCO Site.

JMF

What other AP Art History images do you think should be added to the list?