At Saint-Denis, an exhibition explores healing beliefs from medieval relics to contemporary therapies

At the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire Paul-Éluard in Saint-Denis, the exhibition 'Croire et guérir – Et délivrez-nous du mal' delves into the intersections of faith, medicine, and magic from the Middle Ages to the present. Housed in a 17th-century Carmelite convent since 1981, the museum showcases 285 pharmaceutical ceramics from the former Hôtel-Dieu de Saint-Denis. The display examines Western pharmacopoeia, featuring Galen’s humoral theory alongside dubious remedies like 'eau minérale de Bézoard de la veuve Perrin' (1823). Contemporary pieces include Christian Fogarolli’s glass lungs and Sophie Zénon’s retables, while Hoda Afshar’s video 'Speak the Wind' contrasts with Catholic saints and exorcism masks. The exhibition runs from May 27 to November 15, 2026.