Contact For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 11, 2002
Contact: Jack Kyle
Executive Director
601-960-9901

MISSISSIPPI TO HOST MAJOR EXHIBITION OF
ART MASTERPIECES FROM DRESDEN, GERMANY

Dresden, Germany---Officials of The Mississippi Commission for International Cultural Exchange, Inc. and the State Art Collections Dresden signed contracts at the Porcelain Collection of the Zwinger for Jackson, Mississippi, to host the first major exhibition from Dresden in North America since the reunification of Germany.

The exhibition titled THE GLORY OF BAROQUE DRESDEN will be presented in the Mississippi Arts Pavilion in Jackson during the period March 1 through September 6, 2004.

Dr. Martin Roth, director general of the State Art Collections Dresden, and Jack Kyle, executive director of The Mississippi Commission for International Cultural Exchange, Inc., signed contracts for their respective organizations.

The signing ceremony at the Porcelain Collection of the Zwinger was attended by the Minister President of the Free State of Saxony Dr. Georg Milbradt, German Consul General Heinrich-Peter Rothmann of Atlanta, Georgia, Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr., and members of the Commission's board of directors including: E.B. Robinson, Jr., Dr. Robert Smith, J. Kane Ditto, and Pat Fordice.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Dr. Martin Roth quoted President George W. Bush's statements when he visited Berlin on May 23rd, "We are the heirs to the same civilization. The New World has succeeded by holding to the values of the Old. Our histories have diverged, yet we seek to live by the same ideals." Roth continued, "The Glory of Baroque Dresden will be an exhibition of national status focussing on Dresden as a capital of European art from antiquity into the 18th century. As ambassadors of German culture the masterpieces of the highest quality will be sent to Mississippi, in the United States of America not only to give an insight into the treasures of the State Art Collections, but to strengthen the cultural exchange between both countries."

In his remarks Kyle stated, "Without question, the masterpieces loaned by the State Art Collections Dresden for the Glory of Baroque Dresden Exhibition will capture the attention of art lovers, scholars, those interested in German culture, and visitors from throughout Mississippi, the Southeast, the entire U.S., and North America. If not the finest, it surely will be one of the top art exhibitions and major attractions in the U.S. in 2004."

The Glory of Baroque Dresden Exhibition will consist of over 300 major artworks from eight collections of the State Art Collections Dresden, which is one of the highest quality art collections in the world. The exhibition will focus upon Baroque Art in Europe from 1697 to 1763 during the times of August the Strong (1670-1733) and his son, August III (1696-1763), both electors of Saxony and kings of Poland.

OLD MASTERS PICTURE GALLERY
Among the highlights of the exhibition will be Old Master paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian, Mantegna, Carracci, Tintoretto, Murillo, Ribera, Velazquez, Canaletto, Bellotto, Van Dyck, Reni, Jacob van Ruisdael, and Lucas Cranach the Elder from the famed Old Masters Picture Gallery. Rembrandt's "Samson Proposing the Riddle at the Wedding Feast", Rubens' "Diana's Return from the Hunt." Montegna's "Holy Family", and Lucas Cranach the Younger's "Adam" and "Eve" are featured.

GREEN VAULT
From the famed Green Vault will come bronzes and jewels including one of Dresden's most widely known treasures - the "Dresden Green Diamond." It is the only large diamond with a naturally green color that has ever been found. The "Dresden Green," as it is known, is forty-one carats. The Rose-Diamond Garniture, the dazzling "Moor" sculpted by Balthazar Permoser and decorated by Johann Melchior Dinglinger with the matrix of emeralds, bronzes by Francois Girardon and Gianbologna, and selected works from the emerald, ruby, sapphire, and other garnitures will be a major component of the exhibition.

PORCELAIN COLLECTION OF THE ZWINGER
Noted the world-over for its unique size and quality, the Dresden Porcelain Collection housed in the Zwinger possesses the greatest collection in the world of Meissen porcelain and contains more than 10,000 East Asian pieces of Chinese and Japanese porcelain. The development of the Porcelain Collection was led by August the Strong who called his passion for porcelain "la maladie de porcelaine." It also inspired Johann Friedrich Bottger's re-invention of porcelain, under the auspices of August the Strong, in 1709.

From this collection in Dresden will be exhibited in Mississippi an array of Chinese blue and white porcelain, as well as porcelain of the "famille verte" and Japanese Imari-style porcelain. A selection of the famous "Dragoon" vases; one of the largest displays outside of Dresden of the famous Meissen animal figures including peacocks, goats, swan, lion, heron, crane, mountain goat, cat, tigers, vulture, monkeys, and mother wolf, a large bust of August III; a tureen from the famous Swan Service; an equestrian statue of August III; and one of the famous "birdcage vases" will be exhibited.

RUSTKAMMER
The famous arms and armor collection of the Rustkammer will provide a large display of armor for horse and rider, a horse decoration of gilded, brass bells to pull a sleigh, and the horse decorations and saddle for the coronation of August the Strong. Jewelled swords, hunting guns, crossbows, children's armor, a golden mask representing Apollo created in 1695 by Johann Melchior Dinglinger, elaborate hunting knives, and trophy antlers are among a large collection of rare works drawn from the collection of the Rustkammer.

THE SCULPTURE COLLECTION OF THE ALBERTINUM
A large selection of sculptures from the Baroque period and from antiquity will be included in The Glory of Baroque Dresden Exhibition. Works by Balthazar Permoser who is considered the greatest sculptor active in Dresden during the Baroque period will be featured including the "Baby Crying" (1726) and "Chronos" (1695). The famous "Bust of August the Strong" (1718) by Paul Heermann and the "Bust of Crown Prince Frederick August" by Francois Coudray, sculpted in 1715 will be shown. The "Laocoon" (Hercules) circa 1490 by Francesco di Giorgio Martini will also be seen in Mississippi. Roman sculptures, Greek vases, and other rare sculptures from antiquity will also be featured.

FROM OTHER COLLECTIONS
Ornate costumes of August the Strong; a throne chair, silver tables, sconces, and firescreen from the Audience Hall of the Residence Palace; portraits of August the Strong and August III by Louis de Silvestre; rare prints and drawings; gold and silver coins; and furniture will be featured.

THE MISSISSIPPI COMMISSION FOR INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGE, INC.
Established in 1994, The Mississippi Commission for International Cultural Exchange, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501c (3) cultural and educational organization. THE GLORY OF

BAROQUE DRESDEN EXHIBITION marks the fourth international exhibition
presented by the Commission and follows the 1996 "Palaces of St. Petersburg: Russian
Imperial Style" exhibition which was the highest attended exhibition in the U.S. for 1996
attracting over 554,000 visitors; the 1998 "Splendors of Versailles" exhibition which was designated the "1998 Top Event in the U.S." by the American Bus Association; and the 2001 "The Majesty of Spain: Royal Collections from the Museo del Prado & Patrimonio Nacional" exhibition which attracted more than 320,000 visitors and also received the designation as the "2001 Top Event in the U.S." by the American Bus Association. A special highlight of the Spanish exhibition was the visit of Their Majesties King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia to the exhibition in Jackson.

SPONSORS
THE GLORY OF BAROQUE EXHIBITION is sponsored by the Division of Tourism, Mississippi Development Authority, State of Mississippi; City of Jackson; Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau; J. Kane Ditto; Dudley J. Hughes; Charles L. Irby; Stuart M. Irby; William D. Mounger; Ambassador John N. Palmer; E.B. Robinson, Jr.; and Leland R. Speed.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Call or write:

The Glory of Baroque Dresden Exhibition
P. O. Box 2447
Jackson, MS 39225-2447
U.S.A.

1-601-960-9900
1-601-960-9950: Fax
Web site: www.gloryofdresden.com

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Mollie Gregory
Mississippi Development Authority/
Division of Tourism
P. O. Box 849
Jackson, MS 39205
601.359.3297
mgregory@mississippi.org