Jan Brueghel I. Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

Religious encounters at the Museo Thyssen

In conjunction with the celebration of World Youth Day 2011, the Museo Thyssen- Bornemisza presents the exhibition Encounters. It comprises a selection of nine works depicting episodes from the life of Christ by 14th to 18th century artists including Albrecht Dürer, Duccio di Buoninsegna, Giovanni Paolo Panini, Aert de Gelder, Il Guercino and Matthias Stom.

The first "encounter" in the exhibition is the one that took place between Christ and the
Doctors (1506), an episode from the childhood of Christ depicted by Albrecht Dürer
(1471-1528), the greatest German Renaissance artist. This original composition reveals the
influence of Italian painting in the use of half-length figures, the arrangement of the
heads and the emphasis on gestures.

Matthias STOM. Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

Among the various episodes to be seen here from the earthly life of Christ are two important ones that depict the meeting between Christ and the Woman of Samaria by Jacob's well, as recounted in the Gospel of Saint John. The first is a small panel by Duccio di Buoninsegna (active 1278-1319) entitled Christ and the Woman of Samaria (1310-1311).The second version is entitled Christ and the Woman of Samaria at the Well (ca.1640-1641) and symbolises baptism and conversion through the word. It was painted by Il Guercino (1591-1666) who focused his attention on the dialogue between the two figures beside the well.

Finally, and within the section devoted to the period after the Resurrection, the exhibition includes The Supper at Emmaus (ca.1633-1639) by Matthias Stom (ca.1600 - after 1652), who focused on the moment described in the Gospel of Saint Luke when Christ revealed himself to his followers after he had blessed and broken the bread.

Date: from August 2 to September 4.
Location: the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. Paseo del Prado, 8. 28014 Madrid. España.
Date: from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 11pm. Sundays from 10am to 7pm.

France