Genre

Devotional Objects & Symbols

Brigand and his wife in prayer, Léopold Robert

Faith left its instruments in the picture: the rosary, the crucifix, the open missal, the lily of purity. Medieval and Renaissance painters used these objects as a legible code, so that a viewer could read a saint or a virtue from the things placed in their hands.

Key artists

Works

Every work in this catalog is in the public domain; images come from the museums that hold them. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

Frequently asked questions

What is Devotional Objects & Symbols?

Devotional Objects & Symbols is a motif in painting. Faith left its instruments in the picture: the rosary, the crucifix, the open missal, the lily of purity.

How many Devotional Objects & Symbols works does Artifact World Gallery have?

Artifact World Gallery holds 564 public-domain Devotional Objects & Symbols works, all free to view and download.

Who are the key Devotional Objects & Symbols artists?

Key Devotional Objects & Symbols artists in the collection include Titian, Jean Baptiste Camille Corot and El Greco.