"It is truly a privilege to host such a historically significant exhibition consisting of art and artifacts from an institution that has endured for over two millennia. We are delighted to be able to provide our community and visitors to the region this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view this singular collection of rare objects, many of which have never been on public display, even at the Vatican Museums," says the San Diego Museum of Art's acting executive director, Heath Fox.
By contextualizing the works in architectural settings, Saint Peter and the Vatican: The Legacy of the Popes immerses visitors in a multi-sensory experience. The very floors, walls, doors and foundation of the Vatican have been re-created in order to trace the 2,000-year history of the papacy, beginning with Saint Peter and culminating with Pope John Paul II.
The exhibition comprises the largest collection of Vatican art, artifacts, and historically significant objects ever to tour North America and is drawn from the extensive collections of the Vatican Museums, the archives of Propaganda Fide, the Pontifical Sacristy (objects formerly from the Sistine Chapel), churches administered by the Vatican, and the Casa Buonarroti in Florence.
The objects presented in Saint Peter and the Vatican range in date from the second or third century to the last decade of the twentieth century. Highlights of the exhibition include:
* Charity with Four Putti by Gianlorenzo Bernini—an energetic swirl of Baroque dynamism, the terracotta statuette was the first in a series of studies for a figure for the tomb of Pope Urban VIII.
* Mosaic Fragment of Saint Peter—a fifth-century portrait from a monumental depiction of the Saint that was originally housed in the ancient church of Saint Paul's Outside-the-Walls. The tesserae still gleam after 1,500 years.
* Bust of an Angel—the surviving fragment of a mosaic designed by Giotto that depicted Jesus walking on water to a boat of apostles who are laboring against wind and waves. It was put on display in the Constantinian basilica of Saint Peter for the jubilee of 1675. In 1924, the angel was uncovered when a mosaic that had been placed on top of it was removed.
* Papal Tiara of Pope Pius VII—a fascinating tiara adorned with diamonds, rubies, and a massive emerald, it was a gesture of reconciliation to the Pope from Napoleon. An insincere gift, the gems had been looted from the Vatican during Napoleon's conquest of Italy, and the tiara was too narrow and heavy to be worn.
* Pastoral Staff of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II—this is the personal property of the current pontiff and rarely leaves his person. It is made of silver and was created for Pope Paul VI and inherited by Pope John Paul II in recent years. A perfect replica was created in a lighter alloy making it easier for the Pope to use, allowing the original to tour with this exhibition.
As very large crowds are expected for this blockbuster exhibition, advance ticket purchases are highly recommended and are available through Ticketmaster or at the San Diego Museum of Art box office. Tickets are sold for specific dates and times, and at least an hour and a half is recommended for experiencing Saint Peter and the Vatican. Tickets range in price from $18 for adults to $9 for children 6-17, with special discounts for seniors, military, college students, and groups of 15 or more.
