Date of Award
Spring 5-2025
Document Type
Master's Project
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Program/Concentration
Humanities
Committee Director
Anne H. Muraoka
Abstract
The transformation in the depiction of women in Christian religious art from pre-Reformation through the Counter-Reformation mirrored and molded shifting theological, cultural, and gender paradigms. While much scholarship has addressed the symbolic and doctrinal significance of female figures in sacred imagery, less attention has been paid to how such portrayals influenced women’s own devotional experiences and sense of spiritual agency. This study argues that the religious imagery was not merely a passive reflection of male-dominated ecclesiastical values, but an evolving communicative medium through which women could engage with and reshape their spiritual roles. By analyzing key artworks, patronage trends, and theological shifts, this paper illuminates how changes in the representation of biblical women, saints, and the Virgin Mary fostered new modes of identification, emotional connection, and spiritual participation for female viewers. Ultimately, this research reveals that religious art played a critical role in enabling women to find a voice within the visual culture of Christianity, subtly expanding their place within the sacred narrative across centuries of ecclesiastical upheaval.
Rights
Copyright, 2025, by Nicole M. Honeycutt, All Rights Reserved.
Recommended Citation
Honeycutt, Nicole M.. "The Evolution of the Divine Feminine: How Religious Upheaval Changed Female Devotions" (2025). Master of Arts (MA), Master's Project, , Old Dominion University, https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/humanities_masters_papers/6
Included in
Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Art and Architecture Commons, Christianity Commons, Theory and Criticism Commons, Women's Studies Commons
Comments
A Master’s Capstone Project Submitted to the Faculty of Old Dominion University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF HUMANITIES.