This master’s thesis examines the transformation of the function of sacred artworks through the process of musealization. The aim of the thesis is to explore how the meaning and reception of religious art change when such works are transferred from their original liturgical setting to a museum context. The research is based on a review of Slovenian and international scholarly literature. The theoretical part discusses the development of the concept of art, the inclusion of sacred art within contemporary theories of art, and the development of museums and musealization. Special attention is given to approaches to the preservation and presentation of sacred art, as well as to museological and theological methods of interpreting artworks. The central focus of the research is the question of how the museum context influences the understanding of sacred artworks. The analysis demonstrates that, in the process of musealization, the liturgical and pastoral function of sacred artworks is transformed into an aesthetic, educational, and cultural-historical function. Michelangelo’s Pietà in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome serves as the principal case study. Particular emphasis is placed on the transformation of its function after the act of vandalism, when the sculpture was placed behind bulletproof glass, significantly affecting the reception of the artwork among believers and other visitors. Research shows that religious art can retain its religious significance even within a museum environment. This presents museology with the challenge of reconciling the art-historical interpretation and the sacred function of the artwork, as well as preserving its sacred meaning within a museum context without incorporating liturgical practices.
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