Icons & Retablos: Devotion in Russia and Mexico explores and compares Orthodox icons and Mexican retablos, devotional works of art with similar themes but different materials, styles, and iconographies. Icons are commonly made with egg tempera on wood panels; the retablo is an oil painting on industrial pieces of tinplate. While they both depict images of the divine and symbolize the mysterious and intangible world of heaven, the theological foundations of Orthodoxy and Catholicism make these two objects distinct from one another. The icon, perceived to be a window to heaven, is a visual representation of Orthodoxy theology that follows a strict set of standards for composition and is used in liturgy and worship. The retablo connects the human and heavenly realms but does not conform to a strict canon. The retablo depicts miracles but is not a miracle-working object as icons are. Despite their differences, the mutual influence and inspiration of Eastern and Western Christian art is apparent.

The exhibit is grouped into four themes: the joy of the Annunciation; the loving tenderness of Mother and Child; the suffering and death of Jesus on behalf of humankind; and documented miracles, or ex-votos. This installation encourages visitors to compare these sacred paintings, not only within each altar space but also “across the aisle,” and to explore these two styles of devotion through diverse materials, themes, and artistic expressions.