Noticias
Gathers 180 pieces from the Vatican and Mexican collections
Announcing the exhibition of the great Vatican collections in Mexico, Vatican: From Sr. Peter to Francis
May 23, 2018The exhibition Vatican: From St. Peter to Francis, which will be opened on June 20 at the Old College of St. Ildefonso, was presented on Wednesday, May 23 as one of the most extensive artistic collections that, through 180 pieces from the Vatican and Mexico, will offer a comprehensive tour of the history of Christianity.
Secretary of Culture, María Cristina García Cepeda, said that this great exhibition confirms the importance of the cultural ties that Mexico has established with the world and will provide the opportunity to enjoy a selection of works, gathered for the first time, with pieces by great artists such as Rafael, Tiziano Vecellio, Bernini, Paolo Veronese, Guido Reni and Marcello Venusti, among others.
Eduardo Sánchez Hernández, general coordinator of Social Communication and spokesman for the Government of the Republic, celebrated the great number of exhibitions that have been held in Mexico with hundreds of thousands of attendees, thanks to the work of the Department of Culture, INBA and INAH, and that range from the vision of the Hellenic world to the archaeological treasures of our country.
"The museums of the Department of Culture have received 65.5 million visitors and as an endorsement of this effort, the Old College of St. Ildefonso will host this great exhibition that brings together Bernini, Titian and Guercino”.
Sánchez considered that this exhibition will undoubtedly be one of the most important exhibitions supported by the Government of the Republic, which has cultural action as a priority and a tool to benefit a greater number of Mexicans.
The head of Culture stressed that the work Annunciation by Venusti is on display for the first time outside the Vatican. A painting made around 1555, which was expressly restored to be presented in Mexico.
María Cristina García Cepeda pointed out that the collections gathered together exhibit great works including paintings, engravings, sculptures, ceremonial objects, costumes and documents. The oldest piece dates from the 1st century B.C. and the most recent from Francis’s Papacy.
Also, great works from Mexican collections are included, such as: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, by Juan Miranda, an 18th century oil painting from the historical collection of the National Autonomous University of Mexico; the 16th century Codex of the Cross-Badian, by Martín de la Cruz and Juan Badiano, and Pope St. Dionysius and confessor, by Miguel Cabrera, a 18th century New Spanish portrait, fundamental works that are part of the artistic collection of the National Institute of Anthropology and History.
In order to present the details of this great exhibition as part of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Government of Mexico and the Vatican, the attendees were: María Cristina García Cepeda, Secretary of Culture; Eduardo Sánchez Hernández, General Coordinator of Social Communication and spokesman for the Government of the Republic; Jorge Volpi, Coordinator of Cultural Diffusion of the UNAM; José Enrique Ortiz Lanz, representative of the Museological and Museum Commission; Dagoberto Campos, councillor of the Apostolic Nunciature; Gabriela López, coordinator of Historical and Artistic Heritage of the Secretariat of Culture of the Government of Mexico City; Antonio Berumen, general advisor of the exhibition and Bertha Cea Echenique, executive coordinator of the Mandate of the Old College of San Ildefonso.
General advisor of the exhibition, Antonio Berumen said that this exhibit tells the story from year 64 when St. Peter died in the circus of Nero until Pope Francis’s mandate and for this purpose there was a group of specialists who managed to get venues such as the Treasure Museum of St. John Lateran that had never lent works to be exhibited, to allow its treasures to be part of this initiative.
"Many of the pieces, such as those in the Treasure Museum of St. Peter's Basilica, had never been on display to the public before and we managed to get one of the marbles from the ancient Constantinian Basilica that covers St. Peter's tomb to travel to our country," he said.
José Enrique Ortiz Lanz, representative of the Museum Commission, said that one of the great sanctuaries of humanity that was built in the Renaissance with the collaboration of great figures such as Michelangelo will be opened to the public.
"This exhibition, he said, will make us reflect on one of the great treasures of humanity and its two thousand years of enriched history, as well as on the way in which each piece has been present in key moments of mankind.”
In structuring the curatorial speech, the specialists undertook a thematic tour through six major themes: 1. Introduction. Vatican: from St. Peter to Francisco; 2. The Fundamentals of the Church: the blood of the martyrs; 3. A Church of the Ages: From the Fourth to the Fifteenth Century; 4.The Church in Modern Times; 5. The Contemporary Church; and 6. The Church, an Apostolic Succession.
Due to the relevance of the exhibition Vatican: from St. Peter to Francis and thanks to the sponsorship of Grupo Financiero Banorte, access to the Old College of San Ildefonso to visit this exhibition will be free.
Tickets for the public can be obtained by registering on the web platform: www.desanpedroafrancisco.com, which will be available from May 25. In order to offer the public the chance to admire this great exhibition, the opening hours of the Old College of San Ildefonso will be extended from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Mexico,Distrito Federal
