> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://barna.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Vatican Art Exhibition Opens in Barcelona - URL: https://barna.news/vatican-art-exhibition-opens-in/ - Published: 2026-10-27T07:59:38.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-27T07:59:38.000Z - Description: A landmark exhibition of 20th-century Italian sacred art from the Vatican Museums has opened at the Museu Diocesà in Barcelona. - Author: Barna.News - Tags: whats-on ## Vatican Museums bring modern sacred art to Barcelona A historic exhibition of 20th-century Italian sacred art from the Vatican Museums has opened at the Museu Diocesà in Barcelona, marking the first time a show composed entirely of works from the Vatican’s permanent collection has been staged in Spain. The display, titled *20th Century Italian Sacred Art from the Vatican Museums*, runs until 8th December 2026 and features 22 works drawn from the Vatican’s Modern and Contemporary Art Collection. The exhibition traces a revival of religious themes in art following a period of spiritual questioning after the First World War. It was conceived in response to Pope Paul VI’s 1963 appeal to artists at the Sistine Chapel, where he declared, "We need you," and called for a renewed alliance between the Church and creative minds. A year later, he reaffirmed that message, stating that the world needs beauty to avoid despair. In 1973, Pope Paul VI inaugurated the Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Vatican Museums, placing it between the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel as a symbolic bridge between Renaissance mastery and modern expression. This exhibition, curated by Rosalia Pagliarani of the Vatican Museums in collaboration with c2c Exhibitions, highlights that legacy. ### Christ as a contemporary figure in modern art The central theme of the exhibition is Christ as the man of sorrows, portrayed as a figure of enduring relevance across time. Among the featured works is *El hombre crucificado* (The Crucified Man, 1943) by Ottone Rosai, in which the artist painted his own face onto a factory worker on the cross, set against a city engulfed in flames. The piece reflects on the violent suppression of worker protests in Italy during the 1940s. Renato Guttuso’s *Mano del crucificado* (Hand of the Crucified, 1965) reimagines a detail from Grünewald’s Isenheim Altarpiece, transforming Christ’s hand into a twisted, agonised form painted in acid green. Despite his lifelong communist affiliation, Guttuso used Catholic imagery to critique war and social injustice. Other notable pieces include Felice Carena’s *Deposizione* (Deposition, 1938–1939), shown at the Venice Biennale, in which Christ bears the artist’s own features, and two *Pietà* sculptures by Francesco Messina and Carlo Carrà. The exhibition also includes a bronze sketch by Pericle Fazzini for his monumental *Resurrezione* sculpture in the Paul VI Audience Hall, a commission originally declined by Henry Moore and deemed too costly when proposed by Marc Chagall. --- ### Curators highlight overlooked masterpieces Barbara Jatta, director of the Vatican Museums, emphasised that while visitors often focus on Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces, the modern collection contains significant works that are sometimes overlooked. "Sometimes they are glanced over, but in this collection there are great masterpieces," she said. The exhibition is a collaboration between the Vatican Museums, led by Jatta, and the Diocesan Museum of Barcelona, directed by Monsignor Robert Baró i Cabrera. It is based on a 2022 show held in Milan and curated by Rosalia Pagliarani, who notes that the works reflect how artists have brought Catholic messages into dialogue with modern realities. Visitors can view paintings and sculptures by internationally recognised artists including Giacomo Manzù, Marino Marini, and Salvatore Fiume, as well as lesser-known but accomplished figures such as Aldo Carpi and Giuseppe Montanari. Those wishing to attend can find further details on the [official exhibition page](https://esglesia.barcelona/actualitat/el-museu-diocesa-de-barcelona-acull-per-primera-vegada-una-exposicio-dels-museus-vaticans/?ref=barna.news) hosted by the Archdiocese of Barcelona. --- *Sources:* [*La Vanguardia*](https://www.lavanguardia.com/cultura/20261026/11668705/museos-vaticanos-desembarcan-barcelona-artistas-volvieron-templo-siglo-xx.html?ref=barna.news)*.* --- ### Related on Barna.News - [Pau Casals Exhibition Promotes Music for Peace](https://barna.news/pau-casals-exhibition-promotes-music/) - [Circ Raluy Legacy Returns to Barcelona with Cyborg](https://barna.news/circ-raluy-legacy-returns-to-barcelona/) - [Escena Poblenou Festival Marks 25 Years](https://barna.news/escena-poblenou-festival-marks-25-years/) - [Tramvia Blau Returns for 125th Anniversary](https://barna.news/tramvia-blau-returns-for-125th/)