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Aug. 1 - Nov. 1, 1998
A Renaissance Treasury
The Flagg Collection of European
Decorative Arts & Sculpture
Representing the three-dimensional facet of what most art historians consider to have been the greatest period in art history, this exhibition showcased more than 80 German, Flemish, Italian, Swiss, French and Spanish objects from the 15th through 17th centuries. This exhibition featured later Medieval and Renaissance decorative arts organized by the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from the large portion of the Richard and Erna Flagg collection that was donated to MAM in 1991.
A Renaissance Treasury contained objects of diverse media, origin and social function that provide insight into the culture, religion, scientific studies and history of the Renaissance, also known as the "Age of Discovery." This period was characterized by a literal wealth of information and a renewed appreciation for and interest in things of visual beauty. In particular, bejeweled and ornate religious objects, which during the Middle Ages were commissioned by the Church for use in religious services, gained appeal in the late 15th and 16th centuries for their artistic qualities. As the Renaissance brought wealth to European monarchs and aristocrats, they realized a powerful means of personal expression and began collecting beautiful art works, many of which were religious in nature, as a reflection of their good taste and high social stature.