The Nativity exhibition inaugurated in Rome in the Church of Santa Maria Annunziata in Borgo

Inaugurated in Rome, in the Church of Santa Maria Annunziata in Borgo, the Nativity exhibition organized by the Giovanna Dejua Foundation and curated by Davide Vincent Mambriani (Cultural Affairs Officer of the Jubilee). The exhibition, which can be visited until 6 January 2025, received the prestigious patronage of the “Jubilee 2025” from the Dicastery for Evangelization by express will of His Excellency the Rev. Mons. Rino Fisichella and the Lazio Regional Council.

Monsignor Rino Fisichella (Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization) declared: “The event combines two contemporary works of art by the artist Giovanna Dejua with two other fifteenth-century works of art by Antoniazzo Romano and an anonymous artist All this is combined in perfect harmony with the bull of announcement of the ordinary Jubilee of the year 2025: “Spes non confundit”. I consider every opportunity that is functional to important propagate the Faith, especially among the millions of pilgrims who will come to Rome, the capital of Christianity on the occasion of the Holy Year”.

The Hon. Giorgio Simeoni (President of the Special Jubilee 2025 Commission of the Lazio Regional Council) underlined: “This exhibition is a valuable initiative that allows us to show the world four splendid works by famous Italian artists of the highest level. Nativity will travel around the province of Rome in important places such as the Municipality of Ariccia, the Municipality of Gerano, the Municipality of Lanuvio and demonstrates how the Lazio Region and the Holy See can constructively dialogue and strengthen their relations institutional also through the best expressions of art and culture”.

For the Hon. Svetlana Celli (President of the Capitoline Assembly of Rome) “The Jubilee 2025 represents an event of extraordinary importance for Rome. The traveling exhibition of sacred art “Nativity” presents itself as a culturally elevated opportunity to celebrate the Holy Year. The exhibition, in its Roman stage, offers a unique dialogue between two “Nativities” by the contemporary artist Giovanna Dejua, belonging to her “New Abstract Project”, and two fifteenth-century masterpieces: the “Madonna del Latte con Bambino” by Antoniazzo Romano and the “Madonna della Salute”, attributed to an anonymous contemporary artist. All the works on display share a universal and positive message of motherhood, a highly topical theme in a period marked by conflicts and uncertainties”.

Dr. Angelo Paletta (Director of the Giovanna Dejua Foundation) explained: “The theme of the nativity is at the center of the “Nativity” exhibition that the Giovanna Dejua Foundation created for the 2025 Jubilee, placing the works of the artist Giovanna Dejua alongside the works of important artists of the fifteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries”. After the initial exhibition in Rome, Nativity will visit Ariccia (Palazzo Chigi in February 2025), Lanuvio (Museo Civico Lanuvino in March 2025), Gerano (in April 2025), Florence (Museo de’ Medici in July 2025) and Parma (Castello of Montechiarugolo in July 2025).

The scientific value of the exhibition is immediately demonstrable with the partnerships of four Italian museums and with the critical texts of five well-known art historians -Claudio Strinati, Paola Di Giammaria, Lorenzo Canova, Francesco Francesconi, Francesco Petrucci- who highlighted the value of artistic project and the artists involved. Furthermore, the exhibition of the works will also be present in the metaverse of Oplan City, a technological frontier that opens up new opportunities for enjoying art. For the occasion, Poste Italiane has created a folder and two collectible philatelic postcards with images of the works on display created by the artist Giovanna Dejua.