Van Dyck In Sicily

For the first time ever the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London is bringing together all 15 surviving paintings made by Sir Anthony van Dyck when he stayed in Palermo. Van Dyck In Sicily: Painting and the Plague 1624-25 brings some important loans from the USA (title link for video). This painting of Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness (c.1624-5) has been loaned by the Houston Baptist University in Texas. The Black Death struck Palermo in 1624 and killed many people. The survivors credited Saint Rosalie with saving them. So Van Dyck painted at least two major works depicting Saint Rosalie interceding with God on Palermo's behalf, surrounded by cherubs, her eyes rolling up to Heaven. (Give the punters what they want.) The exhibition opens on 15 February 2012 and runs till 27 May 2012.