Museum offers rare glimpse into Vatican’s history
By LEE CLARK ZUMPE
Article published on Monday, Feb. 18, 2008  |
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| “Mosaic Fragment with Image of Saint Paul the Apostle,” ca. 799 and restored by G.B. Calandra in 1625, Vatican Museums, Vatican City State. |
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ST. PETERSBURG – Stepping from the crowded sidewalks along Second Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg through the doors of the Florida International Museum is no ordinary experience these days ... it’s enlightening, it’s engrossing and – for some – it might even border on being a metaphysical affair.
One of the largest collections of art, documents and historically significant objects from the Vatican, Vatican Splendors from Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Swiss Guard will be on display through Sunday, May 11, at the Florida International Museum, 244 Second Ave. N.
Museum hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. through 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. Last entry is at 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $13 children age 6 to 12, $17 seniors age 62 and older, and $15 military personnel with identification. Call 898-2100 or visit www.vaticanplendors.com or www.floridamuseum.org.
For most, a trip to Rome simply isn’t on the itinerary in the foreseeable future. Making the first of three exclusive stops on its North American tour, this exhibition offers Tampa Bay area residents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse themselves in history, witnessing artifacts including a reliquary containing fragments of bones of Saint Peter, Giotto’s 14th century mosaic “Bust of an Angel,” personal items and tools of Michelangelo and a terra-cotta sculpture by Bernini.
The exhibition begins with the foundations of the Church, including the earliest representation of the face of Jesus in Rome, the Mandylion of Edessa. Also included is a recreation of the second century Tomb of Saint Peter and architectural drawings of the original Saint Peter’s Basilica built by Roman emperor Constantine.
Continuing, the exhibition next examines the current or Renaissance Saint Peter’s Basilica, commemorating its 500th anniversary. Bramante, Bernini, Raphael and Michelangelo are among those who made artistic contributions. Construction on the basilica began in 1506, but there has been a church on the site since at least the fourth century. Catholic tradition holds that it is burial site of Saint Peter.
Visitors also learn about the election of the pope, liturgical celebrations and the significance of the Sistine Chapel in history. The final gallery of the exhibit, Stories of Popes, gives special emphasis to Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Here, the visitor will find a special bronze cast of John Paul II’s hand, created prior to his passing.
The appeal of the Vatican Splendors exhibit far surpasses its religious and spiritual import. The influence of the papacy and the Catholic Church on the evolution of Western Civilization is as undeniable as it is immeasurable.
“This exhibition is about art, history, culture and the Church’s legacy over the last 2,000 years,” said Mark Greenberg, president, Evergreen Exhibitions. “The Vatican has had a profound impact on culture through the centuries by commissioning, collecting and preserving historical objects and art. ‘Vatican Splendors’ is a moving tribute to an exquisite assemblage of art and objects associated with the papacy and the historic institution of the Vatican.”
To say that there is a transcendent quality to the Vatican Splendors exhibition might seem like an exaggeration, but one thing is certain: Walking through these galleries, visitors are swept into the pages of history and the world outside – the bustling streets of downtown St. Petersburg – seems miles, and centuries, away.
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Article published on Monday, Feb. 18, 2008
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