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Splendid exhibit from Vatican
archived from: 2008-06-09
by: Patricia Bartos

A new exhibit featuring artistic and historic treasures from the Vatican — timed to mark the 500th anniversaries of St. Peter’s Basilica, the founding of the Vatican Museums, Michelangelo’s painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the Swiss Guard — will be on view in Cleveland throughout the summer.

“Vatican Splendors from St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guard” opened last week and will remain on view through Sunday, Sept. 7, at the Western Reserve Historical Society at 10825 East Blvd. in the city’s University Circle district.

Many of the some 200 works of art, historic objects and documents have never before left the Vatican and this exhibit, one of the largest such collections from the Vatican ever to arrive in this country, will visit just three U.S. cities. It began this spring in St. Petersburg, Fla., and will run in St. Paul, Minn., beginning Sept. 27.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all — not just Catholics — to see these awe-inspiring treasures and significant pieces of art and beauty,” said Cleveland Bishop Richard Lennon.

Highlights of the collection include Michelangelo’s compass and several tools used in building the Sistine Chapel, plus works by Bernini, Giotto and Guercino, artwork dating back to the third century, a reliquary of St. Peter and Pope John Paul II’s staff.

It includes such up-to-date historic items as election ballots from the consistory electing Pope Benedict XVI and one of the white smoke cartridges used to announce the election of a new pope.

The collection is divided into four galleries, tracing the history of the church.

The first, “Foundations of the Church,” includes the earliest depiction of the face of Jesus in Rome — the Mandylion of Edessa, dating to the third to fifth centuries and done in tempera on linen.

This gallery also includes architectural drawings, paintings and images of the Emperor Constantine’s original St. Peter’s Basilica and Giotto’s mosaic, “Bust of an Angel.”

Gallery 2 centers on “500 Years of the Vatican” and the current basilica, the Swiss Guard and Vatican museums.

Included here are documents and drawings of the proposed basilica, Michelangelo’s iron drafting compass, historical items from the Swiss Guards, such as uniforms, armor and weapons. And from the museums come artifacts from ancient civilizations.

The third section, “The Work of the Pope,” illustrates the procedure of electing a new pope and the importance of liturgical ceremonies in the life of the church. It features a chasuble of Pope Pius XI, a missal from Pope Leo XIII and also his bejeweled table cross.

It also includes rare historic documents such as a 19th-century illustration of a funeral in Vietnam and a Tibetan Buddhist scroll given to Pope John Paul II by the Dalai Lama nearly 30 years ago.

The final grouping is “Stories of Popes” and focuses on the 265 men who have filled the role of pope over the 20 centuries since Peter’s ministry.

The tiara of Pope Pius VII, containing one of the largest emeralds in the world, and a bronze sculpture of Paul VI done by Lello Scorzelli are featured here.

This gallery highlights the roles of both John Paul II and Benedict, including a bronze cast of John Paul’s right hand, done soon before his death, that visitors may touch.

It is Benedict’s portrait, plus his chasuble, miter and “fisherman’s ring” that make up the final items visitors see in the exhibit.

Brother Charles Hilken, head of the history department at St. Mary’s College of California, served as consultant and Peter Radetsky, formerly a contributing editor of Discover Magazine, developed the content for the exhibit.

The Western Reserve Historical Society, dating back to 1867, operates eight collections at four historic properties throughout the region and works to preserve the history of northeastern Ohio.

The exhibit is open Mondays through Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $14 for children age 6-12.

For information or tickets, call 1-888-582-8422 or visit the Web site at www.vaticansplendors.com. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster.com, and at the Western Reserve Historical Society box office, 10825 East Blvd. in Cleveland. For group tickets, call 1-800-840-1157.

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