An exhibition organized by the John Paul II Youth Foundation of the Pontifical Council for the Laity will accompany the 28th World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. The “In the Footsteps of the Lord” exhibition will be open from July 9th – October 12th in the Museu Nacional de Belas Artes in Brazil.
According to a communique released by the Holy See, the exhibition will present a “series of works, objets d’art and manuscripts grouped into four sections: ‘Christ, the way of salvation’, ‘Vocation and mission of the Apostles’; ‘Mary, the road leading to Christ’, and ‘The saints: models to emulate’, all inspired by the theme of the World Youth Day, ‘Go and make disciples of all nations.’”
“Christ, the way of salvation” includes works on the life of Jesus, the passion and the resurrection, Thomas’ disbelief, and the parables of the adulteress and the good Samaritan, as well as an important section dedicated to the image of Christ.
The exhibition opens with the celebrated Mandylion of Edessa, venerated as an acheiropoieta or image made not with human hands, regarded as a true image of Christ. It also includes other prestigious works by, among others, Beato Angelico, Melozzo da Forli, Leonardo da Vinci, Bernini, Correggio, Guercino and Lorenzo Lotto, whose “Christ and the Adulteress” was recently restored by the Vatican Museums. The Christological image of the Turin Shroud will also be displayed in the form of the photograph taken by Secondo Pia in 1898.
The works in the second section are linked to the theme of the call of the Apostles, such as the diptych of St. Peter and St. Paul dating from the third and fourth centuries, on loan from the Vatican Museums, and works by Pomarancio and de Ribera.
The section dedicated to “Mary, the road leading to Christ” juxtaposes works from both eastern and western traditions: Byzantine icons are displayed alongside Pinturicchio’s celebrated “Madonna of the Window-Sill” and works by Michelangelo, Sassoferrato and Perugino.
Finally, the fourth section consists of depictions of the most renowned saints.
