The seminar deals with the reception of Christian motifs in various artistic traditions of South Asia. We will particularly focus on the early modern period when the increasing interaction between European and local agents gave the way to highly original interpretations of Christian icons, objects, and architectural works. The seminar is divided into four sections, each focusing on a different religious context: Buddhism, Hinduism, Indo-Syriac Christianity, and Indo-Persian Islam. Each section features an introductory part about the religious traditions in question, and a second part about specific study cases. Through this combined approach, participants will acquire essential notions about the socio-cultural and historical context, as well as the methodological tools for the interpretation of material evidence. In addition to general readings, participants will be asked to organize themselves in groups and present one topic of their choice to the class. At the end of the seminar, participants will draft a “catalogue-sheet” essay by focusing of one specific object within those discussed in their group presentations. Finally, the seminar is connected to the course “Hinduism and Christianity” by Prof. Hintersteiner and Dr. Manteghi through four jointed classes on Hindu-Christian relations in art, as well as to the study excursion “Hindu-Christian encounters in arts, texts, and rituals” to be conducted in Goa in Winter 2026.

Kurs im HIS-LSF