WILLIAMSBURG — The Muscarelle Museum of Art’s commemoration of the 550th anniversary of Michelangelo’s birth is now on view from March 6 to May 28.
“Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine,” exclusively on view at the Muscarelle, unveils new discoveries about the artist’s work and offers the rare opportunity to behold 25 masterpiece drawings from the Sistine Chapel ceiling and “The Last Judgement.” The exhibition also features engravings, lithographs, and other materials showcasing the origin story of the artist’s greatest works.
“Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine” was made possible through the Muscarelle Museum of Art’s longstanding relationships with leading Italian museums, including the Galleriedegli Uffizi, Casa Buonarroti, and the MuseiReali, all of which are lending artworks for the exhibition, according to the museum. Additionally, the Vatican Museums are providing original images of the Sistine Chapel for the exhibition catalogue authored by Adriano Marinazzo, Michelangelo expert and the Muscarelle’s curator of special projects including this exhibit.
“It’s really rare to have this many drawings, this many preparatory drawings that Michelangelo did as he looked to the work that he was about to conduct in the Sistine Chaple gathered together in one place,” explained David Brashear, director of the Muscarelle. “These Renaissance-era drawings are only allowed to be exposed to light for about 12 weeks every three to five years and what we’ve decided to do with this exhibition is just keep it here at the Moscarelle Museum. So this is going to be the only place in America that you can see this collection of great works together.”
“The Genesis of the Sistine” will be among the first exhibitions presented in the expanded Muscarelle Museum of Art, which opened in February. According to the museum, the renovated building, designed by Pelli Clarke & Partners, increases its footprint by more than 42,000 square feet and blends historic traditions with contemporary design. The new facility, named the MarthaWren Briggs Center for the Visual Arts after lead donor Martha Wren Briggs ’55, triples the museum’s exhibition capacity and reimagines interior and exterior spaces to optimize the visitor experience.
“The expanded Muscarelle Museum of Art will have a transformational impact on the cultural landscape of William & Mary,” said Brashear. “The first major exhibition in the expanded Museum, ‘Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine’ offers an opportunity of a lifetime for our visitors to view these rare artworks against the backdrop of forward-looking architecture. The exhibition continues the Muscarelle’s strong record of presenting major Renaissance exhibitions, having presented work by Botticelli in 2017, Leonardo in 201,5 and Michelangelo in 2013.”
“‘Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine’ offers an unprecedented glimpse into the mind of one of the most famous artists in the world, revealing the unfiltered thoughts, ideas, struggles and breakthroughs that shaped one of history’s greatest masterpieces–the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel ceiling,” said Marinazzo.
Several related programs will be offered by the museum, including:
- Docent-led Tours — Led twice daily during regular hours with tours for groups available on request.
- Curator’s Opening Lecture — March 15 at 5 p.m.
- Film screening: “The Agony and the Ecstasy” — March 20 at 2 p.m.
- VirtualBookTalk with Author Ross King — March 30 at 2 p.m.
- “Michelangelo & Titian: A Tale of Titans” with William E. Wallace — April 5 at 5 p.m.
- “Michelangelo: The Tomb and the Vault” with Adriano Marinazzo — April 28 at 5 p.m.
The museum, located on the campus of William & Mary, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and closed on Mondays. For more information about the museum and its offerings, please visit the official website.
