The remarkable Rosary Cycle—fifteen paintings by, among others, Rubens, Jordaens, Van Dyck, and Teniers—has hung since the seventeenth century in the north aisle of St. Paul’s Church in Antwerp.This exhibition aims to highlight the art-historical richness of the cycle, the connections between Antwerp and Brabant, and the opportunity to introduce the public to Baroque devotion and painting in an innovative way, making it a project of exceptional art-historical significance. It is not merely a relocation, but a museum recontextualization of the Rosary Cycle within a new and more profound perspective.
For the first time in history, these monumental works are being shown in the Netherlands and displayed in a museum. The curator emphasizes the rhythm of the rosary as a guide for living a good life. The contemporary works demonstrate the continuing relevance of the Rosary Cycle.
Frans Francken de Jonge (1581-1642), The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, ca. 1617, Sint-Pauluskerk, Antwerp, CC-BY KIK-IRPA, Brussels
