Masterpieces in ReRe

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Bison, c. 15,000-12,000 BC. Bison length 77 in. (195 cm) Altamira cave, Spain.Don Marcelino Sanz de Sutuola was exploring on his estate a cave where he had already found some carved bone. Because it was dark, his little daughter Maria, from her lower vantage point, was the first to discern the shadowy forms of painted beasts. Painting was ~60 feet long. Such painted Paleolithic caves are still regarded rare occurrences, because the images in them were created

over a period of 20 thousand years. The artist wasn’t concerned where the animals were, or how related to one another.

Mexico, Colima culture, Late Pre-Classic to Proto-Classic Period (300 B.C.-A.D. 300) Seated Male Figure Earthenware

The figure displays a strong interest in personal adornment, a pierced ear for jewelry; a blouselike garment marked by a V neckline; and a decorated headdress featuring five "horns," which may signify the status of the figure or possibly relate to shamanist tradtions.

In his book Ancient Mexico and Central America, the archaelologist Gordon F. Ekhom suggests these horns are actually carefully arranged coils of hair secured with the intertwined band that circles the head and chin.

Ritual Passage into a mystery religion, in the Villa of the Mysteries,

Pompeii. Mid-first century BC. Wall painting.

Book of Kells, Chi Rho monogram. ~800

The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It was transcribed by Celtic monks ca. 800. It is a masterwork of Western calligraphy and represents the pinnacle of Insular illumination. It is also widely regarded as Ireland's finest national treasure.

The illustrations and ornamentation of the Book of Kells surpass that of other Insular Gospels in extravagance and complexity. The decoration combines traditional Christian iconography with the ornate swirling motifs typical of Insular art. Figures of humans, animals and mythical beasts, together with Celtic knots and interlacing patterns in vibrant colours, enliven the manuscript's pages.

Rembrandt. Rembrandt's Mother as Biblical Prophetess Hannah. 1631.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (July 15, 1606 – October 4, 1669) was a Dutch painter and etcher. He is generally considered one of the greatest painters and printmakers in European art history and the most important in Dutch history. His contributions to art came in a period that’s called the Dutch Golden Age.

Hannah is the mother of Samuel, the first of the prophets of the ancient Israel, author of the Book of Samuel.

Rembrandt has portrayed this woman tenderly more than once. As early as the 17th century she was thought to be Rembrandt’s mother, miller's wife Neeltje van Zuydtbroeck. But is she really his mother? After all, both Rembrandt’s friend Jan Lievens and his apprentice Gerrit Dou portrayed the same woman in some of their paintings.

During the 19th century a veritable myth was created around Rembrandt’s family. Scientists identified numerous figures in his work as his father, mother, sister Liesbeth or uncle Adriaan. Myth or reality? This is the issue that this exhibition addresses.

Matisse, The Dessert: Harmony in Red, 1908 Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia

Phillip Guston, Sleeper, oil on canvas, 1972

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Mark Chagall, The Tribe of Zebulun from The Twelve Maquettes Of Stained Glass Windows For Jerusalem, 1964

Petrov-Vodkin, Bathing of a Red Horse. 1912. Oil on canvas. Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery.Petrov-Vodkin used a real horse as his model, named Malchik (“boy”). Petrov-Vodkin was inspired by the Russian icons that

influenced the color palette of this painting: strong reds, soft greenish-blues. The horse symbolizes a Russian fate, that is too powerful for a fragile rider. This painting inspired many other Russian artists. E.g., Esenin wrote this famous lines:

«Я теперь скупее стал в желаньях.Жизнь моя! Иль ты приснилась мне!Словно я весенней гулкой раньюПроскакал на розовом коне». Сергей Есенин

Emil Nolde, Red Poppies. 1920. Watercolor. New York, Hutton Gallery.

Nolde was one of the first expressionists, one of the greatest oil and watercolor painters of the 20 th century. Nolde, the German painter, set understanding inner sense of his subjects as his goal. Golden yellows and deep reds frequently appear in his works.

Nolde’s interest in flowers show the continuity of his interest in Vincent Van Gogh.

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Itsukushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima (known

as Miyajima) in the city of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima, Japan. It is a UNESCO World

Heritage Site.

The shrine is dedicated to the 3 daughters of the Shinto deity Susano-o no Mikoto,

brother of the great sun deity, Amaterasu (the tutelary deity of the Imperial

household). The first shrine buildings were probably erected in the 6th century, and the

shrine has been destroyed many times.

No deaths and births are allowed at the shrine. The current 16th century shrine

follows the design from in 1168, funded by the warlord Taira no Kiyomori. The shrine's

construction, consisting of pier-like structures built over the bay, is due to the

holy status that the island once commanded.

Itsukushima Torii. The gate has existed since 1168, though the current gate dates back to 1875. Commoners were historically not allowed to set foot on the island, and had to approach by boat, entering through the gate that appears to float. When the tide is low, the gate is surrounded by mud and can be accessed by foot from the island.

Visitors place coins in the cracks of the legs of the gate and make a wish.