S.O.S. – Save our souls at the Diocesan Museum Freising


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Saved masterpieces tell of destruction, memory, and hope
With the special exhibition S.O.S. – Save our souls, the diocesan museum of Freising presents precious artworks from the Italian Marche region. The exhibition combines art historical quality with a compelling story of rescue: after the severe earthquakes of 2016, sacred artworks were salvaged from destroyed churches, restored, and preserved for the public.
Late Gothic and Renaissance in the sign of rescue
The focus is on significant works from the Late Gothic and Renaissance, including multi-panel altarpieces by Carlo Crivelli and Lorenzo Lotto. Painting, sacred imagery, and artisanal details unfold a special spatial effect in the exhibition. Gold backgrounds, finely modeled faces, intense colors, and careful restoration make the viewing of the works an aesthetic experience of great immediacy.
Art as cultural memory
The exhibition presents art not only as a historical legacy but also as a bearer of identity, faith, and communal memory. An altar always belongs to a place, a church, and a developed social history. The salvaged works therefore refer beyond their formal beauty to the cultural significance of the protection of cultural heritage and monument conservation.
Between earthquakes, salvage, and restoration
The presentation makes the adventurous story of the artworks comprehensible: they were systematically salvaged from the rubble of damaged churches, centrally secured, and restored with public funds. This results in an exhibition where art historical expertise, restoration, and cultural education are closely interconnected. Visitors experience how fragile materials regain their visual and spiritual impact through expert work.
An art experience with current significance
The exhibition title poses a fundamental question: We save art – does art save us? In the exhibition atmosphere of the diocesan museum, historical testimonies meet present responsibilities. The works illustrate why cultural goods must be protected even in times of crisis, and how deeply aesthetic experience is linked to belonging and human memory.
The diocesan museum is accessible without barriers. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm; on Thursdays, there are extended opening hours until 8 pm during the exhibition. Additionally, a public tour is offered on Thursdays from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
Conclusion: Preserve art, understand history
S.O.S. – Save our souls invites art enthusiasts with outstanding works of Italian Late Gothic and Renaissance, moving restoration stories, and an exhibition that transcends the beauty of individual images. Those who wish to experience art as a living cultural memory should definitely visit this impressive art experience live at the diocesan museum of Freising.
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- Website: https://www.dimu-freising.de/ausstellungen/sos-save-our-souls










