Icons of the Celestial Kingdom

The paintings displayed in Icons of the Celestial Kingdom were all painted on silk in Beijing in the 1930s and 1940s. They were brought to France shortly thereafter. In 1992 they were acquired by the Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History of the Center for the Pacific Rim at the University of San Francisco. The paintings were mounted on scrolls in Hong Kong through the kindness of the Instituto Cultural de Macau after an exhibit in Macau from November 1994 to January 1995. The paintings were then displayed at the Missao de Macau in Lisbon from December 1995 to March 1996. Late in 1996, they were exhibited in San Francisco at the Pacific Heritage Museum. 

The paintings being presented here have as their main subjects Jesus; Mary, the Mother of Jesus; Joseph the husband of Mary and guardian of Jesus. The themes are inspired from the gospels, the basic Christian documents which treat the life and teaching of Jesus, His death, and resurrection. The paintings on exhibit are inspired especially by those parts of the gospels which treat the announcement of the coming of Jesus, Son of God from heaven into the world; His birth; His childhood. Only one painting here portrays Jesus as an adult. Some of the paintings of Mary depict her surrounded by clouds to express her special closeness to Heaven. 

This exhibit has been mounted in loving memory of Rev. Edward J. Malatesta S.J. (1932-1998), founder of the Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History.

Events

Opening Reception
April 21, 1998, 4-6 p.m.
Thacher Gallery at USF