Medieval Treasury: art exhibition 11 June 2016 to 11 March 2017

The Georgian National Museum in Tbilisi, in conjunction with the Korneli Kekelidze National Centre of Manuscripts, is holding an exhibition called ‘Medieval Treasury’ in the new space next to the permanent Treasury exhibition rooms in the museum’s basement.

The exhibition includes pre-Christian and Georgian medieval art, which reflects Georgia’s statehood and national identity. It presents 10th-18th century manuscripts preserved at the National Centre of Manuscripts. It includes the Alaverdi Four Gospels (1054), which is the only Georgian manuscript containing a Mandylion – an impresson of the face of the saviour on the shroud. Made of leather and metal, the cover is decorated with precious gemstones and cloisonne enamel images of St. George.

The exhibition also includes the Vani Four Gospels from the 12th-13th century, commissioned by Queen Tamar. It is richly ornate with decorations and precious stones.

There is also the astrological treatise with the zodiac signs and a lunar calendar comprising different types of religious texts, including several astrological treatises translated from Arabic.

The exhibition represents the whole context of Georgian Christian art, taking its origins from pre-Christian art – with the earliest images of the Georgian alphabet, mosaics from Bitchvinta (5th-6th century), embroidery (12th-18th century), 12th century Epimanikia from Katskhi, and a 16th century embroidery reproduction of the fresco from Ubisa temple. The exposition highlights a 12th century mosaic of St. George and a13th century icon of Archangel from Matskhvarishi, and 14th-16th century icon ensembles from Ubisa, Urbnisi, and Shiomgvime.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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