Zombori István (szerk.): És látta Isten, hogy jó : Válogatás öt évszázad bibliai témájú műkincseiből : Móra Ferenc Múzeum, Szeged, 2008. szeptember 1 - 2009. február 22. (Szeged, Csongrád Megyei Múzeumok Igazgatósága, 2009)
ELŐSZÓ
"GOD SAW HOW GOOD IT WAS." ECCLESIASTICAL TREASURES OF FIVE CENTURIES > Christianity celebrates the Holy Bible in 2008. Not only have the more than one billion Christian believers considered the Bible highly important, but it has also been an essential part of European civilization. Irrespective of religious persuasion, the Holy Bible has served as the foundation of more than 2000 years of culture, while scripture has determined the moral, juridical and ethical norms which are still extant in the 21 s l century. At the same time, the Holy Bible is an inexhaustible source for the study of history, literature and cultural history, as well as being a permanent inspiration for the fine arts. > The Holy Bible also fostered the spread of literacy. It was written on wax, papyrus and parchment, later becoming the most widely translated and published book. It is a book with a unified and canonised structure. As a result references and quotations could be compared irrespective of language and publication circumstances. > Several magnificent exhibitions in Hungary have commemorated this momentous year, celebrating the great richness of hand-written and printed Bibles held in libraries. > To this end the Móra Ferenc Museum decided to organise an exhibition appropriate to its particular profile, collecting pieces of fine and applied arts presenting well known narratives from the Holy Bible. The collection focuses on the 14 t h to 18 l h centuries, an age when artists considered the Bible as the holy scripture of their faith and not solely as raw material ready for elaboration. For these artists, creating works of art was an act of faith and devotion. One can find biblically-inspired fine art in the 19 t h and 20 t h centuries, of course; however, the artists of these modern masterpieces were not necessarily believers. > This exhibition was not only designed for believers, but for all of those who could interpret this magnificent collection as an exceptional aesthetic experience. These works of art have a timeless message for the contemporary individual; the Blessed Virgin with her Son is the representation of maternity; Crucifixion, human suffering and death communicate a message which touches everyone. > The exhibition demonstrates that artists were creating very high quality objects for everyday use, such as the chalices and the Monstrance of Augsburg. As a matter of course the exhibition has a great impact on the faith of Christian believers, and not necessarily only those dedicated professionals who study the Bible to discover its effect on fine arts and literature. Indeed anyone interpreting the Bible as a treasure of cultural history will appreciate its impact on the fine arts. > The distinctive quality of this exhibition is based on the collections of the donor museums. Genuine Central European masterpieces are presented, such as works from the East-Slovakian Museum (Kosice). This magnificent collection would be welcome in any large museum in the world; these masterpieces exemplify the high value of ecclesiastical art in the mediaeval Hungarian Kingdom. Comparable material was almost completely destroyed in the territory of contemporary Hungary during the 150 year-long Turkish occupation in the 16 t h-17 t h centuries. > Through the connections of the co-organizer, the Diocese of Szeged-Csanád, splendid works of art were lent by the Sandomierz Diocesan Museum (Poland). Further pieces are from one of the richest ecclesiastical collection of Hungary, the Archabbey of Pannonhalma. Valuable mediaeval and Baroque paintings from the collection of the Móra Freenc Museum enrich the exhibition. Superb chasubles, goldsmith artefacts and statues were provided by the Museum of the Diocese of Szeged-Csanád and the Franciscan Church and Monastery of SzegedAlsóváros. We would like to thank sincerely the leaders of the institutes: Most Rev. Andrej Dziega, Bishop of Sandomierz, Rev. Andrzej Rusak, head of the Sandomierz Diocesan Collection, Most Rev. Asztrik Várszegi Bishop, Arch-abbot of Pannonhalma, Mr. Robert Pollák, head of East-Slovakian Museum of Kosice and László Kiss-Rigó, Bishop of Szeged-Csanád. We owe thanks to the Generali Insurance Company, to the Police Authority of Csongrád County and to every authority and company who helped the arrangement of the exhibition. > Finally, I would like to thank all members of the collective of the Móra Ferenc Museum who took part in realizing the exhibition. i s l September 2008 I STVÁN ZOMBORI 9
