2011-10-07 15:01:38

Destination Dresden: the Pope's gift to Germany


Professor Arnold Nesselrath is one of the Chief Curators of the Vatican Museums.

Veronica Scarisbrick went round to call on him there this week to ask about an exceptional exhibition currently taking place in the German City of Dresden at the “Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister” .

The exhibition timed to coincide with Benedict XVI’s visit to his homeland is called “Heavenly Splendour” and has as centrepiece a Raphael masterpiece depicting Our Lady known as the “Madonna di Foligno” which is currently featured on the cover of the catalogue of this exhibition. A catalogue which by the way is the second most sold book in Germany right now.

A centrepiece coupled for the first time in history, at least since Raphael’s day , with this artist's famous "Sistine Madonna" housed in this German Art Gallery .

Perhaps Benedict XVI's exceptional gesture in allowing this masterpiece to leave Vatican walls and the extremly successful outcome of this exhibition may further implement this German Pontitff's reputation as patron of art and artists.

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