The gift of God and the gift of man

The Diocesan Museum, the Diocesan Historical Archive, and the Seminary Library of Pavia present the exhibition “The Gift of God and the Gift of Man.”

The exhibition is part of the Jubilee initiative “In Your Name. Art Speaks of Community”, aimed at enhancing the heritage preserved in places of worship and in ecclesiastical cultural institutions. The project is also supported by funds from the 8xMille to the Catholic Church.

The inauguration will take place on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., in the presence of the Bishop, H.E. Mons. Corrado Sanguineti.

The exhibition will remain open to the public until Sunday, October 26, 2025, at the Diocesan Museum – Piazza Duomo, Pavia.

Curated by: Don Fabio Besostri, Deputy Director of the Diocesan Historical Archive; Chiara Cardini, Museum Curator; Don Giacomo Ravizza, Director of the Seminary Library; Marco Romano, Director of the Museum; Don Giancarlo Sozzi, Director of the Diocesan Office for Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage and President of the Diocesan Museum Foundation of Pavia.

The Exhibition

The Diocesan Museum, the Diocesan Historical Archive, and the Seminary Library join forces to promote the cultural heritage preserved by the three institutions. Works of art and ancient documents illustrate the theme of the exhibition through two dimensions: the divine gift, which Jesus grants to humanity, and the earthly gift, which human beings offer to others in material circumstances.

The gift as forgiveness and healing is portrayed in two paintings from the first half of the 17th century, attributed to the school of Giulio Cesare Procaccini: Christ and the Adulteress and Christ Healing the Man Born Blind. Also on display are three significant 16th-century Bibles with fine woodcuts depicting these very biblical episodes.

The earthly gift, such as almsgiving to the poor and welcoming pilgrims, is represented through two volumes dating back to the 17th and 19th centuries, along with a parchment bull from 944, issued by Hugh and Lothair, Kings of Italy, granting the Church of Pavia the ownership of property and rights along the Ticino River.

Jubilee 2025

The exhibition is part of the national initiative created for the Jubilee 2025, “In Your Name. Art Speaks of Community”, dedicated to the heritage preserved in places of worship and in ecclesiastical cultural institutions (MAB – Museums, Archives, Libraries).

This initiative also seeks to highlight the role of the community in creating, preserving, and promoting its cultural heritage, thanks also to the tangible support of those who allocate the 8xMille to the Catholic Church.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to:

• Susanna Cantù and Guido Milanesi, Secretariat of the Office for Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage and Worship Buildings, for coordination

• Xenio Toscani, Diocesan Historical Archive

• Simone Pirola, Seminary Library

• Marco Rognoni, for the video production

• Lorenzo Venturini, for organization and graphic design

• Matteo Grilli, for handling artworks and exhibition setup

• Federica Lodola, for administrative support