History and Culture: The exhibition “The Year of Grace. Holidays. Nativity of the Mother of God” opens in the Kolomeskoe Museum-Reserve

On October 6, 2022 the Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve (Moscow) launches the exhibition The Year of Grace. Holidays. Nativity of the Mother of God. The exhibition at the Palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich opens a series of projects dedicated to Orthodox holidays.

The exhibition presents over forty works of Russian church art of the XVI-XIX centuries from the collection of the museum-reserve, including icons and copper-cast icons, items of church sewing, liturgical books and engravings.

The first section of the exhibition is dedicated to the Old Testament prophecies and prototypes of the Holy Mother of God. For many centuries the diversity and symbolism of the Old Testament prophecies have inspired the authors of sacred texts and art works. The exhibition presents the images of the prophets David, Ezekiel, Moses, Gideon and Daniel from the prophetical tier of the XVII century iconostasis with the texts of prophecies about the Mother of God. Prophets and transformational symbols can also be found on certain icons. The exhibition will feature two XVIII century icons of this kind: Our Lady of the Sign (with prophets) from the iconostasis of the Old Believers’ home church and Our Lady – Woman clothed in the Sun with the transformation symbols in a frame decorated with enamel inserts.

The second section of the exhibition is dedicated to the very celebration of the Nativity of the Mother of God. This is one of the twelve feasts of the Christian year that opens a new year, because the whole history of the New Testament begins with the birth of Virgin Mary. A number of works depicting the feast, created at different times and in different art centers, will allow visitors to get acquainted with the history of the holiday and the iconography. The section is complemented with iconographic images of the parents of the Mother of God, the righteous Anne and Joachim, and a unique veil Conception of Saint Anne; Deesis and the chosen Saints of the XVI century.

The exhibition is complemented by particularly popular and beloved images of the Mother of God, such as Our Lady of the Unburnt Bush, Our Lady of the Life-giving Spring, Our Lady – Woman Clothed in the Sun and others.

Visitors can use a free audio guide.

The exhibition will run until November 20, 2022.