Iconographies in Dialogue – from Saint Eligius to Contemporary Symbolism
Solo Exhibition by Maurizio Meldolesi
Sant’Eligio dè Ferrari, Rome
The ancient oratory of the Church of Sant’Eligio dè Ferrari in Rome hosts Iconographies in Dialogue, a solo exhibition by artist Maurizio Meldolesi. This exhibition is a meditation on the eternal confrontation between the sacred and the profane, tradition and contemporaneity, exploring the complex relationships between different forms of spirituality.
In this Jubilee year, the oratory is transformed into a space for contemplation—an ideal setting to reflect on one’s models of faith and behavior. The exhibition unfolds as a visual dialogue between opposites. It invites visitors to reflect on how traditional sacred imagery can be brought into conversation with contemporary symbols, generating new meanings and suggesting a continuity of visual languages through time.
Four artworks dedicated to the life of Saint Eligius recount the full arc of the saint’s existence, from his birth foretold by prophetic visions to his death, surrounded by the faithful and the nobility. These works embody a fundamental principle of both art and life: just as there is no light without shadow, no joy without sorrow, so in painting, light and dark together create harmony.
In a dialogical counterpoint, the “Alchemical Polyptychs” in pop-art style reflect these themes like a mirror. Here, ancient idols are reinterpreted through figures drawn from cinematic imagination.
The experience is further enriched through augmented reality, which unveils deeper layers of meaning within the works. Presiding over this visual dialogue is the Madonna and Child, placed on the altar—a site-specific piece now integrated into the museum complex. This work acts as a point of equilibrium and synthesis.
The composition merges the dramatic tension of Michelangelo’s Pietà with the contemplative calm of Vermeer’s Milkmaid, while the Child appears to float weightlessly, echoing the same lightness Caravaggio infused into the Child of his Madonna of the Pilgrims.