Exhibition: Maria Mater Misericordiae

Organized as part of the World Youth Days Krakow 2016 and the Jubilee of Mercy celebrated at the same time in the Catholic Church, the exhibition will present nearly 100 works, mainly from Italian collections, whose leading theme is Mary Mother of Mercy. It will feature works by prominent Italian, French, Dutch and German artists such as Donatello, Mantegna, who were active from the 14th to the 18th century.

The visitors will see images of Mary in her protective cloak, Mary revealing her breast and other popular depictions, which in the Middle Ages and the modern era were frequently interpreted as the representation of the idea of Mary's mercy – as Pieta or the Virgin Mary nursing the Child.

The exhibition catalogue will include essays by eminent Bible scholars, theologians and art historians who will present the development of the idea of Our Lady of Mercy in theology, cultural practices of the Church, religious music and iconography. This will provide the readers with a comprehensive compendium thoroughly acquainting them with the Matris Misericordiae iconography. The main iconographic assumptions will also be presented in the exhibition visitor's guide, and – in a very abbreviated form – in the captions accompanying the exhibition.

The display will constitute the only official exhibition of art held as part of the Wold Youth Days Krakow 2016. It is organized by the National Museum in Krakow in cooperation with the Vatican John Paul II Foundation for Youth. The Krakow exhibition will constitute a continuation of religious art presentations held on the occasions of the World Youth Days in prestigious museums in the cities which host these gatherings (Colorado History Museum in Denver, Metropolitan Museum in Manila, Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto or Museo del Prado in Madrid).