New York, 2025: Christian religious art in the spotlight!
The Frick Collection in New York rolled out the red carpet for the Treasure of the Holy Sepulcher by inaugurating the exhibition “To the Holy Sepulcher: Treasures from the Terra Sancta Museum” on October 2. This is the first exhibition of its kind on American soil, and certainly not the last!
In total, more than forty treasures, offered to the Tomb of Christ by European monarchs in the 17th and 18th centuries, are on display facing Central Park, in the elegant setting of the Frick Collection in Manhattan.
Curated by Xavier F. Salomon, the exhibition benefited from the expertise of Jacques Charles-Gaffiot and Benoît Constensoux, both members of the Scientific Committee of the Terra Sancta Museum, in whom the Custody of the Holy Land places great trust. Thanks to their close collaboration, the exhibition highlights pieces of goldsmithing, liturgical fabrics, and rare reliquaries, symbols of royal devotion and the dialogue between East and West over the centuries.
At the heart of the exhibition, several major works illustrate the spiritual fervor of the time: the sanctuary lamp of King John V of Portugal (1740s), the Italian Eucharistic exposition throne (1665), and the chalice from the time of Louis XIV (1668-69), signed by the Parisian master goldsmith Jean Hubé.
Benoît Constensoux explained that the exhibition layout presents the works by their country of origin. They are displayed across three rooms dedicated to temporary exhibitions, new spaces created and inaugurated for this very show after extensive renovation and expansion work at the museum. Compared to previous exhibitions in Lisbon, Santiago de Compostela, or Florence, “the tone is much less theatrical,” with softer lighting. The wall tones, meanwhile, evoke the colors of the stones of Jerusalem.
A universal heritage
At the opening ceremony on September 29, 2025, Xavier F. Salomon, Chief Curator of the Frick Collection, emphasized the cultural and spiritual significance of the event:
“Despite Jerusalem’s turbulent history, these objects have always been kept, preserved, and used. There is nothing comparable anywhere else in the world. Their presence here bears witness to a universal heritage shared among faith, art, and history.”
Fra Stéphane Milovitch, Director of the Board of the Terra Sancta Museum Art & History, recalled the purpose of the project:
“This is not a symposium on who God is. Rather, through music, art, and culture, we can foster a sense of communion among peoples. These works are not mute relics but living witnesses of our faith and our humanity.”
Jacques Charles-Gaffiot, co-curator of the exhibition, added:
“An exhibition limited to a few dozen masterpieces offers visitors countless delights but, more importantly, shows how Beauty can lead to contemplation of the Truth embodied in the Risen One! The genius of artisans, embroiderers, and goldsmiths transcends matter, turning it into a vibrant offering to the Creator.”
An experience of living treasures
This exhibition is part of the creation of the Terra Sancta Museum in Jerusalem, the first Christian Museum dedicated to the history and art of Christianity in the Holy Land.
Benoît Constensoux, project coordinator, highlighted the importance of this step:
“The Frick Collection offers a magnificent setting for these masterpieces. The American public is discovering a little-known part of the universal heritage, and the first reactions from visitors are filled with emotion and gratitude.”
Through this exhibition, the Terra Sancta Museum Art & History and the Frick Collection remind us that art is a universal language. At the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, President Fra John Puodziunas, OFM, expressed the connection between Jerusalem and this New York exhibition:
“This exhibition is not limited to art or treasures of the past. It invites us to relive history in a place imbued with memory, marked by the gifts of kings and emperors. Above all, it calls today’s visitor to experience living treasures. These are not relics frozen in time but a living presence that continues to transform our lives, a presence that is essential in the Holy Land, of course, but also throughout the world.”
👉 Exhibition: “To the Holy Sepulcher: Treasures from the Terra Sancta Museum”
📍 The Frick Collection, New York
🗓️ October 2, 2025 – January 5, 2026
🔗 www.frick.org/exhibitions/holy_sepulcher
