Written & Reported by MOOK Travel Life Chen Guanxin
For admirers of the Renaissance master Michelangelo and his works, there’s no need to travel abroad to see the master’s originals. The "Paradise, Judgment, Rebirth: Michelangelo — The Renaissance Master Reimagined" special exhibition, jointly curated by the National Museum of History, Shi-Yi Multimedia, and Italy’s Casa Buonarroti Museum, will open at the National Museum of History on January 26. This exhibition features 14 authentic Michelangelo manuscripts, including studies of the ancient Venus statue, the floor plan of Florence’s Basilica di San Giovanni, sonnets, as well as a replica sculpture of David’s head, and a fresco reproduction titled The Hand of God Creating Adam by Italian national treasure-level fresco master Antonio De Vito.
The 7-meter-tall David statue standing in front of the National Museum of History was produced using molds made from the original. (Photo / MOOK Travel Life Chen Guanxin)
In the past, none of the artworks of the three great masters of the Renaissance have been exhibited in Taiwan. This special exhibition has carefully selected 14 manuscripts with an insured value exceeding NT$1.1 billion from the 205-piece collection at the Casa Buonarroti Museum. It will comprehensively present Michelangelo’s life and works through eight themes: "The Image of Michelangelo," "Michelangelo’s Private Life," "The Artist’s Workshop," "Michelangelo’s Sculptures," "Michelangelo’s Architectural Designs," "Fresco Master Michelangelo," "The Renaissance Rivalry: Da Vinci vs. Michelangelo," and "Original Manuscripts from the Casa Buonarroti Museum," offering the public a glimpse into the true face of Michelangelo.
The authentic works on display include, from left, the floor plan of Florence’s Basilica di San Giovanni, a sonnet manuscript, and a study of the ancient Venus statue. (Photo / MOOK Travel Life Chen Guanxin)
In the Michelangelo special exhibition, not only can visitors see the master’s original manuscripts and the classic replica of David’s head, but the 7-meter-tall David statue standing in front of the National Museum of History was also produced using molds made from the original. Including the base, it stands about 7 meters tall and weighs 550 kilograms. It was divided into three parts for ease of transport and reassembled in Taiwan. Additionally, as the frescoes on the Sistine Chapel ceiling could not be removed from Italy, to fully showcase the master’s masterpiece, the exhibition specially invited Italian national treasure-level fresco master Antonio De Vito to demonstrate the ancient painting techniques on-site during the first two weeks of the exhibition.
The famous David sculpture (left image) is currently housed in the Galleria dell’Accademia in Italy, while the replica sculpture of David’s head (right image) will be exhibited at the National Museum of History starting January 26. (Left image provided by Moleskine Editorial Department; right image photo / MOOK Travel Life Chen Guanxin)
In addition, from now until January 25, visitors can purchase special exhibition tickets for just NT$250 at ibon, Books.com.tw ticketing systems, and ERA ticketing, and also receive a Michelangelo classic red wine cardholder worth NT$350. Those holding advance tickets purchased via ibon, Books.com.tw, or ERA ticketing can also enjoy a 30% discount on audio guide rentals. The exhibition also offers a paid download of the first-ever guided tour App by aesthetics master Jiang Xun. Not only does this eliminate the need for borrowing and returning, but it also allows you to keep Jiang Xun’s insightful commentary permanently on your phone, along with images of each exhibit, so you can revisit Michelangelo’s masterpieces anytime, anywhere.
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The Sistine Chapel fresco The Creation of Adam (top image) is one of Michelangelo’s classic masterpieces. Although the original cannot be seen at this exhibition, Italian national treasure-level fresco master Antonio De Vito will present his fresco reproduction The Hand of God Creating Adam (bottom image), and demonstrate the ancient painting technique during the first two weeks of the exhibition. (Top image provided by Moleskine Editorial Department; bottom image photo / MOOK Travel Life Chen Guanxin)