The Vocation of the Artist examines the historical role of the artist and presents a particular perspective, grounded in the author's experience as a practising artist and scholar, on the contemporary function of the artist as prophetic critic and visionary. Using specific interpretations of the words 'vocation', 'prophetic', and 'visionary', Deborah Haynes draws attention to the need for artists to assess critically the relationship of the past and present to the future. Bringing together a wide range of historical and theoretical sources in cultural history, art history and theory, and religion, this book is addressed to those interested in the complex interdisciplinary dialogue of the visual arts, religion, and ethics.