╚Pilgrim Treasures: Byzantium √ Jerusalem╩ at the Hermitage Amsterdam

Date: 28.09.2005 Source: news agency "Russian Antique"

Добавить отзыв

Exhibition centre the Hermitage Amsterdam [zoom (79k)]

An exhibition organized by the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg ╚Pilgrim Treasures: Byzantium √ Jerusalem╩ will be on view at the Hermitage Amsterdam, Nieuwe Herengracht 14, Amsterdam, the Netherlands from October 1, 2005 through March 26, 2006.

The important showcase will feature more than 230 artworks dated IV√ early XX century from the collection of the State Hermitage connected with pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Among the highlights of the exhibition are three unique reliquaries designed for holding fragments of the Holy Cross, superb wooden carved crosses, icons with inscriptions in Arabic, pearl depictions of Bible scenes and precious gifts presented to Russian Emperors by pilgrims.

The displayed pieces brilliantly illustrate Orthodox culture and old tradition of pilgrimage that exist since IV century. During eleven centuries, from late IV century to 1453, the Byzantine Empire was considered to be a bridge between Eastern and Western civilizations. Byzantium embodied cultural traditions of its predecessors Greece, Rome and ancient Eastern empires.

╚Pilgrim Treasures: Byzantium √ Jerusalem╩ includes pieces of Christian art by masters of the Holy Land, Byzantium, Georgia and Russia: an exceptional icon of the Blessed Virgin from the Hermitage collection, Georgian and Byzantine silver, fine carved pearls, gold and silver embroidery. Some of items on view belonged to Peter the Great, Catherine II, Alexander I and Nicholas II. Among these rare exhibits is a magnificent shroud presented to Nicholas II in 1913 by the Balamend monastery.

Clay lamps and bronze crosses are represented at the exhibition alongside gold and silver masterpieces. These ╚plain╩ items played an important role in development of Christian culture and Orthodox art of the Holy Land too.