Noticias
Inauguration of the great exhibition Vatican: from St. Peter to Francis at St. Ildefonso College
June 19, 2018One of the greatest historical and artistic collections that shows the cultural influence of the Catholic religion in Western civilization was opened to the public through the great exhibition Vatican: From St. Peter to Francis, made up of 180 pieces from the Holy See and Mexico and inaugurated by the President of the Republic, Enrique Peña Nieto, on Monday night June 18 at St. Ildefonso College.
The President and the First Lady, Angelica Rivera, were accompanied by María Cristina García Cepeda, Secretary of Culture and Enrique Graue Wiechers, Rector of the UNAM; Jean-Louis Bruguès, official delegate of the Holy See; José Antonio González Anaya, secretary of Finance and Public Credit; Bárbara Jatta, director of the Vatican Museums; Bertha Cea, coordinator of San Ildefonso College; and José Ramón Amieva Gálvez, Mexico City Mayor.
Regarding the masterpieces by Rafael, Titian, Bernini, Paolo Veronese, Guido Reni and Marcello Venusti, Enrique Peña Nieto said that these 25 years in which Mexico has recognized the Vatican as a State, are splendidly framed with this exhibition that also endorses Mexico’s position as a secular State that respects freedom of expression and creed.
The President of Mexico said that our society’s history would not be understood without the presence of the Catholic religion in the western world and therefore Mexicans will enjoy, regardless of their beliefs, two thousand years history artistic jewels that speak of the founding of our nations and their coincidences through culture.
María Cristina García Cepeda said that one of the priorities of the cultural policy of the Mexican State that the Department of Culture assumes is the dissemination of universal expressions in the forums of our country, and the presence of Mexico in international venues, so in this exhibition we can admire paintings, engravings, sculptures, ceremonial objects, costumes and documents dating back from 1st century BC, to the most recent from Francis’s papacy.
Secretary of Culture affirmed that the historic decision of President Enrique Peña Nieto to create the Department of Culture endorses our nation's commitment to continue building this future of our cultural relations with the world, so that cooperation, broad and deep, may be the open letter between nations.
She celebrated this great exhibition is made up of artistic pieces and objects of inestimable symbolic value, whose main theme is the history of Christianity, with works by Renaissance and Baroque masters, the collections of the Vatican Museums and Vatican collection institutions, as well as the art collections of our country that are part of the collections of the National Institute of Anthropology and History, the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the Historical Archives of the Mexican Province of the Society of Jesus.
Rector of the UNAM, Enrique Graue Wirchers, said that this exhibition tells us about the evolution of the Catholic Church through the centuries with a curatorial narrative in which the Vatican and the Mexican State participated with specialists from the UNAM.
"You will also find in this exhibition the elements of the search for truth through knowledge and education in the religious processes of the West and its various nations," he added.
Jean-Louise Bruguès, official delegate of the Holy See, said that it would be a source of joy for the public to learn about the symbols that, through unique pieces, are part of the world heritage and on this occasion have framed the diplomatic dialogue with Mexico for 25 years.
He noted that regardless of personal beliefs, this collection provides historical data on the configuration of knowledge among the world's different cultures.
"The strong relationship of these pieces with culture also allows us to understand the history of the Vatican and the configuration of the different papacy, its initiatives and symbolic and theological assets”
For the first time outside the Holy See, the painting Annunciation by Marcello Venusti (1555), is exhibited and ex professo restored for its presentation in Mexico.
Also included there are relevant works from Mexican collections such as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, by Juan Miranda, an 18th century oil painting from the historical collection of the UNAM; the Codex of the Cross-Badian, by Martín de la Cruz and Juan Badiano, from the 16th century; and San Dionisio Papa y confesor, by Miguel Cabrera, an 18th century New Spanish portrait; main works that are part of the INAH's artistic collection.
Finally, José Ramón Amieva Gálvez, Mexico City mayor, said that this exhibition will allow us to know and admire two thousand years of history that will be integrated into the cultural circuit of our city and its great museums in the historic center.
During the inaugural tour, guided by the architect José Enrique Ortiz Lanz and Antonio Berumen, the public was able to enjoy other pieces such as the Bust of Saint Peter, by Raffaele Capo; the Lateran Custody, a piece gilded with emeralds and rubies, as well as the stone fragment with Dionysian thiasos in relief, from the 1st century BC and the golden hammer used to certify the death of the pontiffs.
Vatican: from St. Peter to Francis is on display until October 28 at St. Ildefonso College. Justo Sierra 16, Historic Center.
Mexico,Distrito Federal
