Gothic Madonnas on a Lion | Splendor et Virtus Reginae Coeli

13 February – 11 May 2014
Archdiocesan Museum in Olomouc | Gallery

The most important achievement in the field of ancient art in 2014. This international project traces a remarkable phenomenon of European High Gothic Sculpture: a depiction of the Virgin Mary sitting or standing on a lion. This unique motif, which first appeared in the 13th century, represents, in the spirit of medieval symbolism, a link to the throne of King Solomon and to victory over evil and sin. It is in this sense, the forerunner of the later representation of Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon. Most of the Madonnas standing on a lion have been preserved in Silesia and Pomerania. It will be our country where the Madonnas on a lion from modern day Poland, Germany, Austria, and France will come together in one place for the very first time. They will be complemented by a recently discovered Madonna on a lion of the Czech origin. On the occasion of the exhibition, we will publish a bilingual Czech-German catalogue in cooperation with leading European experts.