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June 2 - June 9, 2002 |
Salvation and artistry at the ROM
Exhibition features images from the Vatican Museum and other Italian collections
By Donna Lypchuk
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Jacopo Bellini’s Madonna and Child
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Once again, the innovative and truly world-class curators at Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum are gifting us with an exhibition that is going to be a "once in a lifetime experience." Images of Salvation showcases 140 unique artefacts from the Vatican Museums, the Italian Ecclesiastical Museums and other private collections. Toronto is the sole North American venue for this spectacular showcase, and this is the first time many of these objects have ever been seen before outside of Italy.
This educational exhibition, which is sponsored by Hydro One, is laid out in four sections that describe the history and evolution of the Catholic Church. Viewers at the entrance in the East Atrium are introduced to this "visual story of the Bible" by Peter Paul Rubens' striking 17th century tapestry "The Resurrection," which will be flanked by six stunning 18th century tapestries portraying the faces of angels.
The first section is devoted to the Myth of Creation and features drawings, engravings and prints of Adam and Eve by Pisano, Raimondi and Michelangelo (whose studies for the Sistine Chapel are included here). The second section, called The Word, displays medieval manuscripts and psalm books and never seen before treasures such as a 15th century Torah scroll from the Middle East and a 14th century Spanish illuminated manuscript. The third section, called Witnesses, features scores of very famous paintings depicting scenes from the New Testament such as "Virgin and Child" by Bellini, "The Incredulity of St. Thomas" by Barbieri, and "Jesus and the Adulteress" by Lotto.
Believe me, when you see these masterpieces, you will recognize them if you were brought up Catholic. A recently discovered 17th century bronze and gilded shrine by Giovanni Lorenzo also makes its North American debut here.
The exhibition's final section, Upon This Rock, features portraits of Saints such as Giordano's "St. Nicholas in His Glory" and Guercino's portrait, "St. Lucy" (1658), as well as a variety of treasured objects used by the Church in religious ceremonies from the 15th century including a spectacular silver processional cross and a delicate illustrated Book of Hours.
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