Fall 2009 CALIFORNIA PATRONS OF THE ARTS IN THE VATICAN MUSEUMSMessaggero

Patrons’ Restore the ’s Pauline Chapel our years into his Papacy Bene- dict XVI is finally able to preside in the Pauline Chapel of the F Section from . Situated just a few “The Conversion steps from the , the of St. Paul” by Cappella Paolina is a private place of prayer and Eucharistic celebration reserved for the Holy Father and his immediate household. The work, which cost $4.5 million, began in 2003 under the direction of Professor Arnold Nesselrath and has been carried out with funding from Patrons of the Arts from England, Ireland, and the United States. After undergoing a complete restoration, the Chapel was reopened on July 4, 2009, by Benedict aged Michelangelo was enlisted to Until 1670, many conclaves to XVI, who presided over vespers paint the two facing each other elect a new pope were held in the attended by many of the Patron bene- across the Chapel: The Conversion of Pauline Chapel. Traditionally, the gaze factors from around the world. St. Paul and The Crucifixion of St. of the condemned Peter was seen as Pope Paul III Farnese commis- Peter. Painted between 1542 and directed toward the Chapel’s visitors, sioned Antonio da Sangallo to build 1549, these are the last frescos painted especially the cardinals assembling to the chapel from 1537 to 1542. The by Michelangelo. Continued on page 3 SAVE THE DATE Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco “Tutankahmun and the Golden Age of the Pharoahs”

California Patrons Board member Molly Crowley has graciously arranged for complimentary admission to the Tutankhamun exhibition for current members of the California Patrons. The exhibition focuses on the life of the king and other royals of the 18th dynasty (1555-1305 BC). On display are 50 burial objects from Tutankhamun’s tomb and over 80 items from elite families of the period. Highlights include the gold and precious stone inlaid canopic coffinettes, scarab bracelet, and gold falcon collar. A reception will follow the visit to the exhibi- tion. Invitation have been sent. Please respond if you would like to attend as admission will only be available to those on the guest list. 2 • Fall 2009 CALIFORNIA PATRONS OF THE ARTS IN THE Patrons and Pompeii n June 4, 2009 some thirty open to the general public. Most of the docent explained the significance of Patrons from Orange County objects, including mosaics, paintings, the items and the insights they to the Bay Area gathered for a and sculpture, come from opulent provided into daily life of the times. O villas of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and New Patrons Bill, Debra, Kathryn complimentary private viewing of the exhibition “Pompeii and the Roman other towns dotting the coast along and Genevieve Shaw enjoyed their Villa: Art and Culture around the Bay the beautiful Bay of Naples. Many of first Patron’s event. Sherry and of Naples” at the Los Angeles County the 120 objects have never been seen Richard Van Meter drove up from Museum of Art. We were able to view in the United States and many have Orange County. Louise LaMothe the exhibit prior to the Museum being only been recently discovered. Our joined us from Santa Barbara. New Patron Julia Dobel and her daughter Anna flew down from the Bay Area for the tour as did Kathleen Huston. Patrons Greg and Randy Stanis- lawski sponsored a reception on the patio of Pentimento at the Museum. We had a private area with lovely small plates and refreshing drinks. Another special event for our members!

Statue of Girl Fastening Her Peplos, Villa de Papiri, Herculaneum

Chairman’s Corner

by Michael Scott Feeley Another lovely summer is transi- Incorporation. The majority of our organization’s books regularly. The tioning into autumn. I hope you will members cast ballots and all the accounting firm of Bay Sherman & inaugurate the fall by joining us for received ballots approved the revi- Craig has completed the 2008 audit the King Tut exhibition at the de sions unanimously. Our corporate of the California Patrons and provided Young Museum in San Francisco on structure is now updated and in a clean opinion. We appreciate our September 29. It is another wonderful conformance with how many simi- treasurer Greg Stanislawski’s efforts opportunity offered by the California larly situated organizations are in organizing our records so well and Patrons to our members, courtesy of constituted. The Board feels it is shepherding us through the process. our Board Member Molly Crowley. important to revisit our legal docu- We are committed to running a tight Thank you to all our members ments periodically and ensure that we ship with welcome transparency. If who cast ballots on the proposed revi- are following best practices. you would like a copy of the audit, sions to the Bylaws and Articles of As is our custom, we audit the please contact me.

CALIFORNIA PATRONS Michael Scott Feeley, Chairman • [email protected] • 213-891-7895 Monica M. Lomenzo, Coordinator • [email protected] OF THE ARTS IN THE VATICAN MUSEUMS California Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums 301 N. Lake Ave., Suite 900, Pasadena, CA 91101 CALIFORNIA PATRONS OF THE ARTS IN THE VATICAN MUSEUMS Fall 2009 • 3 Vatican Museums Host Astronomical Exhibition By Patron Fr. George Coyne, S.J., been housed in various museums President of the and observatories in the Vatican Foundation and throughout Italy. In addition to telescopes and astronomical ver since Galileo in 1609 instruments, the exhibit will pointed his home-made tele- contain paintings, sculptures, scope through a window of his E charts, globes of the heavens and home in Padua, Italy and discovered of the earth and rare books from the brightest satellites of Jupiter, the . mountain and craters on the moon Featured at the and the Milky Way, the telescope in exhibit will be photo- various shapes and sizes has been the graphic plates and principal tool for all that we know documents from the about the universe. As part of the cele- participation of the Fr. George Coyne, S.J. bration of the International Year of Vatican Observatory Astronomy 2009, initiated by the Telescope from the Carte du Ciel in the international International Astronomical Union and Project project, dating from UNESCO, a special exhibit of tele- 1892, to produce the scopes and astronomical instruments first photographic atlas of the in the Vatican and in Italy through the stars. The telescope used for that work of Father Angelo Secchi, S.J., the centuries will held from 19 October project (see photo) was first housed at father of modern astrophysics, will 2009 through 15 January 2010 at the the Observatory in the Vatican behind also be featured. Vatican Museums in collaboration with St. Peter’s Basilica and is now located If you wish further information the Vatican Observatory and Italy’s in the gardens of the Papal Summer about the Vatican Observatory or the National Institute of Astrophysics. This Residence at Castel Gandolfo about 20 Vatican Observatory Foundation is the first time ever that the public miles southeast of where the (chaired by Patron Ben Dalby), will be able to view in one exhibit a headquarters of the modern Observa- which helps to support this work, precious collection of rare astronom- tory are located. The 19th century please go to our website at ical instruments which have heretofore www.vaticanobservatory.org

elect the new pontiff. It served as a tation at the reopening of the Chapel. Pauline Chapel reminder of the cost of discipleship. He noted that Peter’s gaze, rather than from page 1 Pope Benedict offered a new interpre- being focused on the visitor to the Chapel, is actually directed across the Chapel to the face of Paul on the opposite wall. Peter at the cross and Paul at the moment of faith are in dialogue. According to the pontiff, ‘It is as if Peter, in the hour of the supreme trial, were seeking that light Section of “The Crucifixion which gave the true faith to Paul. And of St. Peter” by so it is that in this sense, the two icons Michelangelo can become two acts in a single drama: the drama of the Paschal mystery: cross and resurrection, death and life, sin and grace.” Michelangelo’s last works continue to astonish and intrigue us to this . CALIFORNIA PATRONS OF THE ARTS IN THE VATICAN MUSEUMS

301 N. Lake Ave., Suite 900

Pasadena, CA 91101

House of Citharist, Pompeii Citharist, of House

Statues of Boar and Hunting Dogs, Dogs, Hunting and Boar of Statues

Statue of Aphrodite, Rione Terra at Pozzuoli at Terra Rione Aphrodite, of Statue

Graces, Pompeii Graces,

The Three The

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