Revoir Cimabue exhibition at the Louvre Museum | Ticket Reservation

at the Louvre Museum from January 22 to May 12, 2025

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THE EXHIBITION:

The “Revoir Cimabue” exhibition is held from January 22, 2025 to May 12, 2025 at the Louvre Museum. At the heart of this unique retrospective, visitors will be able to discover the artistic revolution carried out by one of the greatest painters of the 13th century, whose ambition was to represent the world and sacred figures in a more realistic and more human way. The result of extensive restoration and research work, “Revoir Cimabue” at the Louvre Museum invites you on a fascinating journey to the very cradle of Western painting.

AN IMMERSION IN THE RENEWAL OF WESTERN PAINTING

In the middle of the 13th century, Tuscan artists still largely followed the tradition of icons of Byzantine origin. At the time, it was considered that the value of a sacred image depended on its conformity with ancient prototypes. However, Cimabue (born Cenni di Pepo around 1240 in Florence, died in 1302 in Pisa) radically shook up these conventions. He begins a decisive turning point in Western art: where Byzantine representation is characterized by flattened and idealized figures, Cimabue seeks to give the illusion of depth and volume, to humanize faces and stage gestures. natural.

The Louvre Museum, which today presents Review Cimabuerelied on two significant events to organize this exhibition: the restoration of the monumental Majestycompleted at the end of 2024, and the acquisition in 2023 of a new Cimabue panel, The Derision of Christrediscovered in France in 2019 and classified as a National Treasure. These two flagship works, considered essential milestones in the career of the Florentine painter, constitute the starting point of a journey which brings together nearly forty carefully selected pieces.

The exhibition opens with a contextual section evoking the artistic effervescence of Tuscany in the 13th century, particularly in Pisa, where the cult of oriental icons is still significant. Throughout the rooms, we clearly perceive the contrast between the Byzantine heritage and the emergence of an innovative naturalism: in Cimabue’s paintings, the delicate modeling of faces, the attention paid to bodily volumes and the desire to render human emotions already announce the great upheavals of the Italian Renaissance.

THE HEART OF THE EXHIBITION: MAESTÀ AND DYPTIC OF CIMABUE

Among the emblematic works not to be missed is the Majesty (4.27 m × 2.8 m). Often described as the “birth certificate of Western painting”, it marks a major step in Cimabue’s illusionist quest. The painter represents the Virgin enthroned sideways, in a space that is intended to be three-dimensional, and adorns her with delicately modulated draperies. The sacred characters are endowed with natural gestures, while their expressions reveal a new sensitivity for the time.

Thanks to a careful restoration, the Majesty has regained its original shine. The repaints accumulated over the centuries have been removed, revealing the subtlety of the colors, including lapis lazuli blues with a particularly luminous rendering. We can now see more clearly the fascination of Cimabue and his sponsors for the Orient: the borders imitating Arabic inscriptions or even the oriental textile on the back of the throne testify to the influence of an Islamic art then very sought after.

Saint Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata1300-1325 (1st quarter of XIV^e century). Giotto di Bondone, Italy, School of. © 2013 Grand Palais Rmn (Louvre museum) / Michel Urtado

FROM CIMABUE TO GIOTTO: A REMARKABLE POSTERITY

The exhibition Review Cimabue at the Louvre Museum ends with a work by Giotto, Saint Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmataexecuted a few years after the Majesty. Intended for the same location (the tramezzo of the San Francesco church in Pisa), this monumental painting bears witness to the passing of the baton between the master and his disciple. Giotto, often considered the initiator of the Florentine Renaissance, undeniably draws from Cimabue’s approach this desire to breathe life and humanity into sacred scenes.

Thus, at the dawn of the 14th century, Duccio and Giotto each carried the flame of artistic renewal in their own way. Their works combine a lively narrative, a concern for anatomical authenticity and a refined treatment of color, all elements that appeared in Cimabue. The latter died in 1302, leaving behind a founding legacy for the rest of the history of Western art.

This retrospective is curated by Thomas Bohl, curator in the Department of Paintings at the Louvre Museum. From researching archival documents relating to Cimabue to coordinating the restoration of major works, including the exceptional gathering of pieces from different international museums, the organization of Review Cimabue has mobilized high-level expertise, serving a museum presentation that is both educational and striking.

WHY GO SEE THE EXHIBITION “SEE CIMABUE AGAIN“AT THE LOUVRE MUSEUM?

• An appointment with the founding act of Western painting

The Majestyoften considered the “birth” of Western painting, is at the heart of the journey. Its restored appearance allows us to (re)discover the full genius of Cimabue and his ability to combine Byzantine heritage and emerging naturalism.

• The rarity of the works exhibited

Only around fifteen paintings by Cimabue have reached us. The exhibition brings together the three panels of a diptych that we thought would be broken up forever, including the essential Derision of Christ. This unprecedented concentration of rare works, accompanied by some major pieces by Duccio and Giotto, constitutes a unique opportunity.

• A dive into Cimabue’s workshop

Even if the 13th century archives remain incomplete, the exhibition attempts to reconstruct the functioning of the master’s workshop. The visitor is invited to unlock the secrets of the preparation of the panels, the pigments used (including lapis lazuli) and the process of ordering the works.

• A new look at the origins of the Renaissance

By highlighting the Byzantine heritage, then the break made by Cimabue, the tour reveals how this visionary painter, far from being an isolated figure, is part of a dynamic network of artists and sponsors. We thus see the beginnings of the Florentine Renaissance emerging before our eyes.

• An exhibition for everyone

Review Cimabue is aimed as much at art history enthusiasts as at visitors curious to discover the roots of Western painting. Thanks to a clear scenography and rich explanatory materials, everyone can appreciate the beauty and revolutionary scope of the works on display.

In short, whether you are a lover of medieval art or a simple visitor in search of wonder, the exhibition Review Cimabue at the Louvre Museum offers a fascinating panorama of one of the pillars of European pictorial culture. It masterfully illuminates the crucial transition between the Byzantine style, still very popular in the 13th century, and the emergence of a new artistic language focused on realism, narration and emotion.

So don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Cimabue’s essential works brought together, around a fruitful dialogue with Giotto and Duccio. Prepare yourself for a journey to a time when, for the first time, a painter dared to represent the divine with human features, thus inaugurating a new era in the history of art.

GET THERE:

Address : Louvre Pyramid, 75001 Paris

SCHEDULES :

• Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday and Friday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• closed Tuesday

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