Il Regno: A Look at the Morgan Library and Museum’s Ongoing 2023/2024 Exhibits (Part 3)

Coins from the Chalkis hoard, Greece, Chalkis, late 14th century

Considering the substandard state of New York City’s cultural institutions of late, our recent visit to the Morgan Library and Museum in Midtown Manhattan was a welcome breath of fresh air.

The five ongoing installations we took in, were not only interesting and enjoyable but impressive in quality and scope. An eclectic array of treasures, combining highlights from the Morgan’s permanent collection and prized loans, the exhibits included masterly works from Hieronymus Bosch, William Blake, and Fra Angelico, among many others.

Curated with the utmost professionalism, each gallery (working our way up from the lower level to the second floor) was better than the last. We highly recommend you go see them before they come to a close.

[See Part 1] [See Part 2]

Medieval Money, Merchants, and Morality November 10, 2023 through March 10, 2024

(L) Death and the Miser, oil on panel, The Netherlands,
Hertogenbosch, ca. 1485-90, Hieronymus Bosch. (R) Four-ducat
gold coin, Ferdinand and Isabella, Spain, Castille, 1497-1537

Deathbed and Purgatory, "The Hours of Catherine of Cleves," illuminated
by the Master of Catherine of Cleves, the Netherlands, Utrecht, ca. 1440

(L) Avarice, limestone relief, France (central or Limousin), 1125-50.
(R) Dives and Lazarus, limestone capital, France, Burgundy,
Abbey Church of Mountiers-Saint-Jean (?), ca. 1150-60

Gerard of Villamagna Soliciting Alms for the Poor, Praying, and
Preaching, Vita Christi (Life of Christ), illuminated by Pacino
di Bonaguida and workshop, Italy, Florence, ca. 1300-25

(L) Portrait of a Man with a Pink Carnation, oil on panel, Netherlandish,
ca. 1475, Hans Memling. (R) Portrait of a Merchant, oil on oak,
Netherlandish, ca. 1530, Jan Gossaert

Gospel and Calling of St. Matthew, Book of Hours, France, Paris, ca. 1500

(L) St. Francis Renouncing His Worldly Goods, oil on panel, Belgium,
Antwerp (?), ca, 1500, Master of Augustine (?). (R) Joachim and Anna
Giving Food to the Poor and Offering to the Temple, oil on poplar,
Italy, Siena, ca. 1400-1405, Andrea di Bartolo

King Refusing Corporeal Delights, Avis aus roys
(Advice to Kings), France, Paris, ca. 1347-50

Detail King Refusing Corporeal Delights, Avis aus roys
(Advice to Kings), France, Paris, ca. 1347-50

(L) Last Supper, Gradual, illuminated by Silvestro dei Gherarducci, Italy, Florence, 1392-99. (R) Host Desecration Tale of 1290, France, Paris, 1530-40

St. Anthony Shunning the Mass of Gold, Italy, Florence,
ca. 1435-40, tempera on panel, Fra Angelico

(L) The Prodigal Son Amid Swine, Germany, Nurenberg, ca. 1496,
engraving, Albrecht Dürer. (R) Der Rychman (The Rich Man), from
Dance of Death, woodcut executed by Hans Lutzelburger, Germany,
designed 1523-26, published 1538, Hans Holbein the Younger

Adoration of the Magi, Book of Hours, illuminated by the
workshop of Jean Bourdichon, France, Tours, ca. 1490

Alms box, brass, South Netherlands, 15th century

Punishment of Usurers, Dante Alighieri, Divina commedia
(Divine Comedy) Italy, Florence, 1345-55

Purse, iron and leather, Northern Europe, late 15th century

Merchant and King, Jacobus de Cessolis, Liber de moribus hominum et
officiis nobilium sive super ludo scracchorum (Book off the Customs of
Men and the Duties of Nobles, or The Book of Chess), in French,
translated by Jean de Vignay, France, probably Paris, 1350-60