MADRID.- In Madrid this evening, Elisa Durán, assistant general manager of ”la Caixa” Banking Foundation, and Hartwig Fischer, director of the British Museum, officially opened The Pillars of Europe. The Middle Ages at the British Museum, an exhibition that examines the Middle Ages from a broad European perspective and seeks to find the roots of a common identity.

In its cultural programme, ”la Caixa” Foundation pays particular attention to the great cultures of the past. Accordingly, the institution presents exhibitions aimed at enabling audiences to discover the different ways in which men and women from different places and times have sought to answer the great universal questions, and to broaden our understanding of the world through knowledge of the most recent historical and archaeological research.

The Pillars of Europe. The Middle Ages at the British Museum is highly representative in this sense, as the show’s approach goes beyond the history of individual realms, cultural traditions and national identities to place the accent on the formation of modern Europe.

Moreover, in contrast to preconceived ideas about the Middle Ages as a dark period of struggle and superstition, fear and ignorance, the show explores a view of the Middle Ages as a time of great artistic talent and cultural development, of profound political, religious and economic changes. These objects from the British Museum testify to the rich material culture of both the ruling elites and other medieval communities, offering a glimpse of shared themes from across medieval Europe, such as the splendour of the royal courts, the central role that the Church played in everyday life, the formation of states and the expansion of urban centres.

More than a thousand years full of political, economic, cultural and intellectual changes
Although historians employ the terms “medieval” and “Middle Ages” with a certain degree of flexibility, generally speaking these terms are used to designate the period in the history of Europe from the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century to the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth.

Over the course of this period, major changes affected all levels of society. The Europe of the sixteenth century was very different from the world of the fifth. All over the continent, splendid cathedrals and castles were built, many of them still standing even today, and urban expansion transformed the landscape. As the power and status of rulers increased, so borders and cultures became more firmly established, laying the foundations for the modern European nationstates. The Church dominated everyday life and attitudes, while the expansion of trade routes, both within Europe and beyond, led to an increase in contacts between cultures. Skilled artisans created ornate works, rich in extraordinary detail, generating a world of light and colour. However, despite all this splendour and evident wealth, the majority of people lived in poverty.

Nowadays, the word “medieval” continues to be used to describe something barbarous or antiquated. However, this historic period, spanning more than one thousand years, witnessed many far-reaching political, economic and cultural changes, as well as the emergence of great artistic talents and intellectual advances. Just as conditions varied greatly from the western coasts of Portugal to crofts in northern Scotland and the palaces of the Italian city-states, so life in Europe in the year 400 was vastly different from that of 1500.

Even today, we find many fragments from our medieval past. Great stone churches and castles dominate the landscape, and artworks and objects made by skilful artisans have survived, as have certain words and place-names that reflect life in the villages of the Middle Ages.

A unique selection of works from the British Museum, combined with outstanding pieces borrowed from other collections
In addition to this original approach to the medieval period, the exhibition also stands out thanks to the design created by ”la Caixa” Foundation. The innovative architecture highlights the spectacular nature of the works on show, which are divided into five sections focusing on the formation of Europe, royal power, ecclesiastical power, life at court and urban life. A final, closing section, featuring an audiovisual, is devoted to exploring the legacy of the Middle Ages down to our own time.

The Pillars of Europe includes a total of 262 works, of which 243 are from the collections of the British Museum. The show is completed by 19 pieces from the National Museum of Archaeology, the National Art Museum of Catalonia and the Frederic Marès Museum. These additional objects serve as a counterpoint to the exhibition discourse, enriching it by including the perspective of realms in southern Europe.

Within the exhibition there are a number of highlight objects, due to their historical and artistic significance and the exceptional opportunity of seeing them outside their permanent display at the British Museum. They include:

» King from the Lewis Chessmen (1150-1200, possibly from Norway, found in Scotland). The Lewis chess pieces testify to the strong cultural and political connections between Britain and Scandinavia in the Middle Ages, and to the growing popularity within Europe of the game of chess, the origins of which lie in ancient India. Of the 93 pieces known to us today, 82 are in the British Museum. The chess pieces consist of elaborately worked walrus ivory and whales' teeth. The king, with his moustache and thick beard, symbolises masculine strength and represents the ideal medieval leader. His throne, crown and tunic denote his wealth and status.

» Disc brooch (575-625) from England, silver-gilt plated with cloisonné garnet, filigree, glass cross and shell bosses. This type of brooch was very popular in the sixth and early-seventh centuries in Kent, an AngloSaxon realm in what is now southeast England. Kent established flourishing trade links and diplomatic ties with the Franks, whose kingdom occupied what is now France and parts of Germany. The brooch testifies to the wealth and growing status of this kingdom in southern England.

» Stained-glass roundels (1480-1500, Germany). Stained glass, painted in bright colours, brought radiant life into the interior of medieval buildings. Stained-glass high windows featured ambitious decorative designs or elaborate stories. These roundels, or medallions, feature some of the most frequently found images: the Crucifixion, St Christopher carrying Christ, and St Catherine. Religious imagery was used in very different contexts, from churches to jewellery. This stained-glass roundel probably comes from the home of a wealthy family.

» Stone figure of a knight wearing full armour (1375-1425, England). This statuette, which may represent St George, personifies the medieval knight. The upper body is protected by a breastplate, with a mail shirt covering the exposed parts of the neck and stomach. Clearly well-armed, he wears a sword and shield and holds what is probably a lance. The wealthier soldiers were the best armed and protected.