Experience a historic first as the Christ of Dalì and the relic drawing of the Crucified Christ are displayed together at the Church of San Marcello al Corso. This free exhibition is open to the public until June 23, 2024, in preparation for the Jubilee of 2025.
Sign up for notifications to receive updates on
The Christ of Dalì is on display at the Church of San Marcello al Corso in Rome and is open for free public viewing until June 23, 2024. This special exhibition is in honor of the Jubilee of 2025. The showcase commenced on Monday, May 13 at 6:00 PM and marks the third exhibition of the ‘Open Skies’ Art Exhibition, integrated into the cultural journey towards the Holy Year. The famous painting of the ‘Christ of Saint John of the Cross’, also known as ‘The Christ of Port Lligat’, was created by the Spanish artist Salvador Dalì in 1951.
The exciting news is that the Church of San Marcello al Corso in Rome will host, for the first time in history, the display of the Christ of Dalì alongside the relic drawing of the Crucified Christ, which inspired Dalì’s painting. The drawing was created by Saint John of the Cross and is preserved in the saint’s reliquary at the Monastery of the Incarnation in Ávila.
Opening Days and Hours of the Dalì Christ Exhibition in Rome
The Dalì Christ exhibit opened on May 14 and will be on display until June 23, 2024. The exhibition is free and open to the public, on a first-come, first-served basis, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM at the Church of San Marcello al Corso, located at Piazza San Marcello 5.
The Christ of Dalì and the Relic Drawing of the Crucified Christ
The Christ of Dalì, dated 1951, is an oil on canvas measuring 204.8 x 115.9 centimeters and is housed at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow. In Rome, at the Church of San Marcello al Corso, it is showcased alongside the relic drawing of the Crucified Christ, an ink on paper measuring 57 x 47 millimeters and dated between 1542 and 1591, created by Saint John of the Cross. According to tradition, the artist drew the sketch after a mystical revelation.
The theme highlighted is that of “Christian Hope,” suited to the context of the Jubilee. In Dalì’s painting, Christ floats in the darkness and is offered from above, as if the viewer sees him through the eyes of the Father, for the redemption of a world that seems to have found a bright haven of salvation just below. The Church of San Marcello al Corso was chosen for the exhibition because it houses the so-called “miraculous crucifix,” to which believers turn to request favors, brought to the Vatican and prayed over by the Pope during the pandemic.
