'Gothic Treasures from Slovakia' Exposition Opens in Rome on Thursday

'Gothic Treasures from Slovakia' Exposition Opens in Rome on Thursday

Rome, September 29 (TASR-correspondent) – Slovak Culture Minister Marek Madaric, along with Slovak President Andrej Kiska and Italian President Sergio Mattarella, opened the ‘Gothic Treasures from Slovakia’ exposition in the seat of Italian president Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome on Monday.

“The ministry has financially contributed so that this important and complicated exposition could take place. We’ve granted a special subsidy of €185,000 to the Slovak National Museum, which is the main organiser of the event,” Madaric told TASR.

Madaric noted that this exposition is unique for Rome as this capital is replete with historical and cultural sights, but it lacks gothic architecture. That’s why this event could be interesting even for Italians. “The gothic art from around 1500 was at a superior level in Slovakia,” added Madaric.

Works of Master Paul of Levoca (Presov region) and other gothic treasures of the Slovak cultural heritage from the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries will be the biggest crowd-pullers.

All Slovak exhibits are national cultural landmarks of extraordinary artistic and historic value. Some exhibits, such as the group of statues from the Nativity of Jesus Altar or the Lamentation of Christ statue from the Saint Jacob’s Basilica in Levoca, have left Slovakia for the first time ever. Other works of Master Paul will be featured as well – the statue of the Virgin Mary from the Virgin Mary Altar in Spisske Podhradie (Presov region), Crucified Christ in Spisske Vlachy (Kosice region), etc. Master Paul’s sculptures have been complemented with paintings of his contemporaries.

The exposition, described as one of the most important projects of Slovakia’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, presents Slovak culture and history. It feature 52 items from 20 various owners. It will run until November 13.