GRATIA DEI. A JOURNEY THROUGH THE MIDDLE AGES CENTURIES OF HISTORY IN A NEW LIGHT Reliquary of St.Stephen last decade of the 12th century Wise Men reliquary second quarter of the 13th century Crucifixion reliquary thrid quarter of the 13th century Photo : Jacques Lessard At 40, they were already old and frail. They lived in terror of dying without having the opportunity to repent. The Bible was their bestseller. Nine out of ten people were peasants. Love and war were knightly pursuits. What a strange time, you might say. Yet beyond these fairytale clichés, few of us are aware that the Middle Ages was a dynamic time that has left a significant mark on modern-day society. From May 21, 2003, to March 28, 2004, the Musée de la civilisation sets the record straight with the exhibition Gratia Dei. A Journey Through the Middle Ages. The exhibition invites you to walk in the footsteps of yesterday’s knights, villains, trouvères, peasants, prelates, lords, and their ladies. A route dictated by divine authority, but also by the rule of man. Discover a civilization both rich and original, strange yet familiar. A major exhibition on the great era that gave rise to the university, the banking system, champagne, the fork, the horseshoe, the mechanical clock, the glass mirror, and countless other inventions that are still part of our lives today. Jousting helmet late 15th century " The good Lord of Huy " Monumental Christ circa 1240 Photo : Jacques Lessard Gratia Dei: The exhibition Gratia Dei. A Journey Through the Middle Ages is focused on six major themes: space and time, the land and the peasantry, the city and the merchants, the crusaders and the pilgrims, the authorities, and knowledge and communication. Each section sheds light on the transformations that occurred between 1000 and 1500 and their impact on human history and civili-zation. The exhibition showcases over 350 rare objects from major collections in Germany, England, Belgium, France, Spain, and the Netherlands on display for the very first time in North America, as well as magnificent pieces drawn from the collec-tions at Musée de la civi-lisation and other Québec institutions, such as the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, Musée d’art de Joliette, and Université Laval. "Gratia Dei. A Journey Through the Middle Ages confirms our solid international connections and testifies to the reputation of Québec museums abroad. Indeed, this major project would not have been possible without the contribution of medieval history specialists and experts from prestigious European museums and universities, who worked with the scientific committee chaired by Université Laval professor Didier Méhu,” noted Musée de la civilisation Executive Director Ms Claire Simard during the press conference. Space and time From the 5th to the 15th century, society underwent dramatic transformations in the way men and women of the Middle Ages conceived of space and time, life and death, heaven and hell. In some ways, space and time are the bridge between the Middle Ages and the 21st century. Remarkable objects are presented in this section, including a magnificent bell from Mehr Church (circa 1400, Cleves, Germany) that illustrates the importance of controlling time in those days, as well as a recumbent statue of the Knight of Curton (8th century, Musée d’Aquitaine, Bordeaux)—evidence of how kings, popes, and lords had their likenesses sculpted on their graves. Books of hours, cards, psalters, and other items further illustrate this theme. The land and the peasantry Living in the Middle Ages meant living off the land. More than money or buildings, land ownership was the hallmark of wealth. The more land a lord owned, the greater his power and the more peasants he kept under his authority and protection. The land itself also underwent profound changes during the Middle Ages. Significant advances were made in farm equipment, improving yields and leading to food surpluses sufficient to feed the towns of the day. The exhibition explores topics such as water, forests, vineyards, and more. A variety of commonplace objects reveal how people lived in the Middle Ages. These include everyday objects, particularly dishes and utensils from the Lake Paladru archeological site (11th century, Musée dauphinois de Grenoble), an aquamanile (a type of ewer used for washing the hands), iconography, and more. Model of a city Model : Michel Bergeron Design : Anne Beauchemin Photo : Jacques Lessard The city and the merchants In the early Middle Ages, cities broke up as people left for the country, and Western Europe became more rural. With food surpluses from the country, cities and towns were reorganized and rebuilt starting in the 11th century. Merchants appeared and forged ties with other civilizations. Gradually, they became the center of power and trade (fairs, markets). This part of the exhibition explores trade, the monetary system, communes, and outcasts (Jews, lepers). Notable pieces include the Treasure of Courpiac (20 coins in a broken earthenware pot, 14th century, Musée d’Aquitaine, Bordeaux, France), paintings, manuscripts, plates (15th century, Museo Arqueológico Nacional de Madrid), chests, and more. The crusaders and the pilgrims Rarely do we imagine the men and women of the Middle Ages as travelers. Yet Christians of that time had a duty to God to visit holy sites. Merchants, knights, and peasants traveled for crusades, work, and pilgrimages. Pilgrimage signs, a magnificent sculpture of St. James the Great (St. James of Compostelle), paintings, and iconographic documents are a wonderful illustration of this. Pig Laced bascinet late 14th century Kettle hat late 15th century Photo : Jacques Lessard The authorities Authority was divided into power (potestas) and moral authority (auctoritas). Power was measured by the amount of land and the number of men under a person’s control. Kings, knights, and princes had power. Moral authority came from God and His intermediaries (the Virgin, angels, saints, and those in a position to exercise moral authority, including monks, priests, and bishops). This section of the exhibition evokes a cathedral, in which the nave represents civil power on one side and religious power on the other. A variety of impressive objects are on display here, including the alb worn by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa (circa 1150, loan from Catharijneconvent, Utrecht, Netherlands); reliquaries from the Musée municipal de l’Évêché in Limoges; weapons from the Musée de l’Armée, including a helm with a sparrow beak visor (late 14th century) and a composite harness (circa 1480); the Good Lord of Huy (13th century, Belgium), a pectoral cross set with precious stones by the silversmith and monk Hugo Oignies (13th century, Treasure of the Cathedral of Liège); and more. Knowledge and communication Between the 6th and 9th century, a new type of school emerged around cathedrals and monasteries under the impetus of Charlemagne and others. Those establishments were the conservatories of culture until the 17th century, when the first universities were created. Another true revolution was the book. This medium consisting of a series of pages of the same size folded, placed one on top of the other, and sewn together at one edge, has changed little since its invention. An influx of new knowledge, particularly from the Arab and Jewish worlds, came with the merchants and crusaders. In addition to text, the Church used illustrations to reach people who were largely illiterate. The exhibition illustrates how knowledge was shared by way of the written and spoken word, music, and images with icons, incunabula (from the collection of the Musée de la civilisation), books, bibles, the reliquary of Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket (1118–1170), and so on. Visitors can also listen to excerpts of secular and religious music, as well as excerpts from sermons. St.Anne, the virgin and the child Jesus ont he column of the world circa 1450 Photo : Jacques Lessard Romanesque and Gothic art The Middle Ages evokes images of Romanesque and Gothic art with its ogives, gargoyles, capitals, and more. Part of the exhibition explores this topic, giving visitors a glimpse of typical architectural features of the time and offering a film on the subject. Armorer’s workshop Also in the exhibition hall, the armorer’s workshop is a special feature just for families. Children and their parents are invited to join a museum guide (or armorer attendant) to discover the steps in making a coat of mail. Before leaving, visitors are invited to try on a knight’s outfit. Guaranteed family fun! Gratia Dei: The game Teens are already fascinated by medieval times. To further pique their interest, the Museum offers an alternative exhibition tour in the form of a game played on a pocket computer. This innovative approach lets you experience the exhibition through a medieval figure—a knight, monk, merchant, or peasant. For each exhibition theme, you’ll zoom in on the objects related to the person of your choice. The tour presents players with a series of challenges (mission) leading to a final outcome: knighting, new land, or entry into a monastery or the merchant’s guild. Gratia Dei: The book Co-published with Fides, this magnificent publication is the perfect complement to the exhibition. From peasants and lords to troubadours and knights, from the agricultural revolution and the birth of books to the invention of musical notation, the schools of Charlemagne, and the great cathedrals, this beautiful, lavishly illustrated book gives readers further insight into a remarkable civilization that has left a major mark on our environment and our minds. Didier Méhu, scientific advisor for the exhibition and professor of medieval history and art history at Université Laval, is the author of this work, an opportunity for visitors to prolong their journey through time for only $34.95. www.gratiadei.com Find everything you saw and loved at the exhibition on the exhibition Website at http://maf.mcq.org/gratiadei/. This attractive, well-designed site lets visitors explore the various themes featured in the exhibition, including Space and time, The land and the peasantry, The city and the merchants, The crusaders and the pilgrims, The authorities, and Knowledge and communication. Exhibition objects and iconography are on the menu, against a backdrop of medieval music. The site also uses animation to spotlight Gratia Dei: The game and its characters. The site builds upon the cultural activities and educational workshops surrounding the exhibition. Lastly, visitors from outside the city will find packages including museum passes and hotel accommodation. Just point and click! Gratia Dei. A Journey Through the Middle Ages—an unforgettable exhibition! Entirely conceived and produced by the Musée de la civilisation team in Québec City in cooperation with prestigious European institutions, Gratia Dei. A Journey Through the Middle Ages is sure to be one of the biggest cultural events to hit Québec City this year. This must-see exhibition is presented by the Musée de la civilisation from May 21, 2003, to March 28, 2004, in collaboration with Université Laval, Catharijneconvent (Utrecht), Musée d'Aquitaine of Bordeaux, Museo Arqueológico Nacional (Madrid), Treasure of the Cathedral of Liège, and Westfälisches Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte (Munster). Funding provided by Aim Funds Trimark and Bureau de la Capitale-Nationale. Promotional support provided by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Contributed by Tourisme Quebec, Québec City Tourism and Convention Bureau, and official hotel Loews Le Concorde. Informations: Serge Poulin/Agnès Dufour, [418] 643-2158 Relations publiques et communications Issued : May 20, 2003

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