03/07/2026 09:00
- 11:10
HALL: Pola - A103
Contact:
Di Cosmo A.P.
Chair:
Di Cosmo A.P.
It is well known that Basil of Caesarea (Homilia in Barlaam martyrem, PG 31, 488) and, later, Gregory
the Great (Epistula I ad Serenum Massiliensem Episcopum, PL 77, 1027) explicitly emphasized the
instructive function of religious images. Building upon the insights of these two Church Fathers,
this panel seeks to reconsider and discuss the educational potential of medieval visual production
within Christian culture. Drawing on the most recent historiographical developments, the
contribution examines images as privileged instruments for the transmission of theological
knowledge and salvation history, capable of communicating complex contents both to learned
audiences and to non-literate faithful. Particular attention is devoted to the emotional, liturgical,
and material dimensions of images—including their spatial setting, cultic use, and the employment
of precious materials—as well as to their inherently polysemous character. The panel adopts an
interdisciplinary approach that integrates Visual Studies, anthropology, and Gender Studies, while
also highlighting the role of Marian and female saints' imagery in shaping models of learning,
devotion, and the representation of femininity within medieval society.
