Estimation of the medieval world At Luhring, Augustine represents what galleries can offer that many museums do not do: an up-close and personal experience with museum-worthy artworks, without an admission price. More than 40 works from the 12th to the 16th century fill this compact, beautifully composite show. A series of paintings, textiles, wood and stone sculptures, enlightened manuscripts and other worship for objects serves as a basic primer in European medieval art. Nothing to see is eager attention. Instead, the rich color and details of each work invite viewers to spend time watching, and the possibility of having a relaxed, intimate experience with these pieces should not be missed.
The show opens with a limestone human-doggooyle (southern France, ca. 1300–1350), an example of “rough” art intended to contrast with religious images. A gilded brass reliquary in the form of a bust of a tortured saint (South Germany or Switzerland, ca. 1500) is a particularly extraterrestrial presence in the show, her eyes stare back to the viewer, blood drips from her neck.
The exhibition is a wealth of formal and conceptually fascinating works. A more medical way should explain their meaning (a catalog is available to read on the website of the gallery). A Predella with three scenes from the passion of Christ (Northeast Spain, ca. 1440), however, has a powerful picture of the lifeless body of Christ and a sculpted alabaster-retable (England, Midlands, ca. 1450) is a show stopper.
A polychrome wooden sculpture by St. George who is a dragon is particularly stunning: the red of the armored and headgear of the holy is a lively contrast with the muffled colors of his body, while the stylized dragon’s turned neck and bulging eyes the Mythical animal with Pathos with pathos.
The Gallery setting also encourages visitors who are used to view contemporary art in galleries to see the work from a different perspective – a strategy that can fail when an important historical context is omitted, but here it illuminates the daring and innovative aesthetic choices that artists have almost made a millennium.
Estimation of the medieval world will take place in the lure of Augustine (17 White Street, Tribeca, Manhattan) until 8 March. The exhibition was organized by the gallery in combination with Sam Fogg, London.
