Unique Madonna Sculptures at
In September a new exhibition on one of the world’s most celebrated women – The Virgin Mary – opens at the Museum of National Antiquities in Stockholm, Sweden. A large number of the museum’s unique Madonna sculptures, pictures by the American artist Ann Hamilton and newly composed music by one of Sweden’s most famous singers, Eva Dahlgren, are to be found in the exhibition ”Mary – The Dream of Woman”.
The Museum of National Antiquities has a large collection of medieval sculpture brought to the museum from Swedish churches mainly during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of these pieces have never since been on public display. Now around thirty of them will be put on show together with modern expressions in the form of contemporary art, music, dance and new texts by an author, a priest and an art historian.
– We wish to display these pieces in a new way and we are doing so by allowing medieval images of the Virgin to meet contemporary expressions, says producer Helene Larsson. At the same time we are creating a context in which we can see something new, or understand something more, about our time and our relationship with history. We also wish to create a dramaturgy where we discover the artistic qualities of the antiquities.
During the 18th century new churches were built in Sweden and many medieval Madonna sculptures were put into storage. The end of the 19th century saw a renewed interest in these medieval sculptures, they were saved and ended up at the Museum of National Antiquities. The collections of the Museum of National Antiquities represent one of the greatest cultural-historical treasures of northern Europe. The museum houses both archaeological finds from pre-historic and historic times and objects and textiles illustrating Swedish ecclesiastical art history. ”Mary – The Dream of Woman” opens 20th September 2008 and continues until 30th November 2009.
Visiting Adress:
Narvavägen 13 – 17, Stockholm Sweden.
Summer opening hours: 1 May–30 September: open daily 10.00–17.00.
Opening hours for the rest of the year: Tuesday–Sunday 11.00–17.00. Closed Mondays. Thursdays open until 20.00.
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Detail of the Rosenkrans Madonna, an alter-piece painting dated 1500-1525. From Danviken, Södermanland.
Photo: Christer Åhlin/SHM
Size: 52x78 cm at 200/dpi
Download high resolution picture » | The white lilly symbolises the Virgin Mary. Logo of the exhibition "Mary - The Dream of Woman".
Designer: Edholm/Ullenius
Size: 45x61 cm at 200/dpi
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The Museum of National Antiquities' exhibition ”Mary – The Dream of Woman”. An exhibition where medieval Madonna sculptures meet contemporary art forms.
Photo: Christer Åhlin Museum of National Antiquities.
Size: 37x29 at 200/dpi
Download high resolution picture » | Around thirty medieval Madonna images are displayed in the exhibition ”Mary – The Dream of Woman”.
Photo: Christer Åhlin Museum of National Antiquities.
Size: 39x33 at 200/dpi
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"Annika Pitkänen in a car, 2003" part of a visual presentation in the Museum of National Antiquities' exhibition Mary - The Dream of Woman.
Photo: Eva Persson/Bildbyrån Silver
Size: 43x52 cm at 200/dpi
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- Updated: 22 August 2008
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