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MessaggeroApril 2015CALIFORNIA PATRONS

OF THE ARTS IN THE VATICAN MUSEUMS

By Patron James E.R. Low

Welcome to the California Patrons digital media! We recently launched a modern website at www.vaticanpatronscalifornia.org along with an

unexpectedly successful social media campaign on Facebook (Facebook.com/CAPatronsOfTheArtsInTheVaticanMuseums), Twitter (Twitter.com/CAPatrons), Instagram (Instagram.com/CAVaticanPatrons), and GooglePlus (LinkedIn is coming soon) -- generating more than 15,000 hits in its first few months alone with no announcement. The Social Media Committee of the Board began focusing on the strategy to

develop a website and companion media outreach last year. Under the chairmanship of James Low, fellow directors Ann Athey, Dan McLoon, Kristan O’Donnell, and Gunnar Gundersen worked with Social Reality to create the website and social media tools.

We are continuing to develop a significant presence online to: (1) raise awareness about the California Patrons and the Vatican Museums, in general; (2) keep members up to date on our activities and share interesting notes or events happening throughout California, around Rome and in the Vatican Museums; and (3) create an opportunity for others to learn

California Patrons Launch Social Media Sites

The Santa Barbara Museum Of Art:Patrons April Event

Botticelli, Titian and Beyond: Masterpieces of Italian Painting from

Glasgow MuseumsThe Santa Barbara Museum of Art is hosting the West Coast

exhibition of Italian Renaissance Paintings from Glasgow Museums in Scotland. Invitations have been sent to current California Patrons for a presentation by the curator of the exhibition, Larry Feinberg, who is also the head of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. A reception will follow the presentation and docent-led tour.

continued on page 2

CALIFORNIA PATRONS OF THE ARTS IN THE

VATICAN MUSEUMS

2 • April 2015 CALIFORNIA PATRONS OF THE ARTS IN THE VATICAN MUSEUMS

Michael Scott Feeley, Chairman • [email protected] • 213-891-7895Monica M. Lomenzo, Coordinator • [email protected]

California Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums301 N. Lake Ave., Suite 900, Pasadena, CA 91101

more and get involved at their own pace.

Current members will be able to log into the site, RSVP for future events, print photos from our large image galleries of previous events, and even plan a trip to the Vatican Museums. Other visitors to the site can learn more about who we are, read the history of the California Patrons, see current and past restoration projects, download a digital copy of the most recent WISHBOOK, donate, and sign up for membership.

Since the web site comes in English, Spanish and Italian, we have online visitors from all over the world. Interestingly, only 42% of recent visitors are from California. The rest come from other parts of the United States, Central America, and Europe. Our most popular posts are regularly from a series, including: #WhenInRome, #FunFactFriday, and #QOTD (quote of the day). For example, #WhenInRome says: “Everybody knows the tradition of throwing coins into #Trevi fountain, but do you know the proper way to do it? Lean more here.” These posts are then seen, liked, shared and clicked (used) to learn more.

Please follow the California Patrons on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We hope you will comment on our posts, “like” many of the them, retweet, and encourage others to follow us online.

Ultimately, creating an interactive web site and maintaining a vibrant social media presence will allow us to streamline local efforts, share more information about the California Patrons and our efforts, raise the profile of the Vatican Patrons, and connect better with

others by presenting the general public with a consistent opportunity to visit us online, at their convenience, and in a way they most prefer, so they can then learn more about what we do, begin to interact with us, and feel inspired to engage with the Catholic Church and the Vatican Museums, either here in California or elsewhere.

As we gain experience and feedback,

Social Media continued from page 1

we will continue to improve and develop our website and social media outreach. Please help us by visiting the site, following the California Patrons on social media, and providing us feedback. Send your comments to me James Low at [email protected]

CALIFORNIA PATRONS OF THE ARTS IN THE VATICAN MUSEUMS April 2015 • 3

Patrons Restorations Uncovers Ancient Mummy ForgeryThrough the generosity of

Julianne and Michael O’Connor, the California Patrons

sponsored the restoration of the Infant Mummy—which turned out to be a clever forgery from two hundred

years ago. Our intern in Rome, Keilah Bloom, describes the scientific detection below, adapted from the Vatican Patrons Website post in January.

Mummy Mania is not exactly a scientific term – but it accurately

describes the Egyptian history craze that swept Europe after the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799 (which allowed for the translation of Hieroglyphics). In the rush to supply the Egypt-a-philic art collectors and museums that popped up on the continent, tombs were ransacked and ruins were exploited. Tourists swarmed the pyramids and every visitor to Egypt wanted to come home with a genuine mummy – correspondingly, there was a booming market for forgeries.

Forgeries of mummies are nothing new – researchers say that there were faux mummies even in the time of the Pharaohs and even more when high demand when during the Middle Ages through the Renaissance they were ground up used as a powder for apothecary potions. Often smaller mummies – “mummiettes” (child or animal mummies) made the best fakes, which held, deep underneath

ancient bandages, contemporary bird bones or sometimes nothing at all.

Two of these fake mummies were the objects of study at the most recent Vatican restorers conference held on January 22, 2015. Professor Antonio Paolucci, director of the Vatican Museums, provided an introduction and Alessia Amenta, curator of the Department of Egyptian Antiquities and

Napoleon in Egypt Studying a Mummy, Print by E. Fiorello

A Case of “Mummy-Mania” Conference including speakers: Fabio Morresi, Alessia Amenta, Antonio Paolucci, Ulderico Santamaria, and Svevo Longo (from left to right) Continued on page 4


the Near East followed up with analysis along with Ulderico Santamaria, head of the Laboratory of Diagnostic for the Conservation and Restoration of the Vatican Museums with his colleagues Fabio Morresi and Sveva Longo. In the curious cases of these mummies, the forgeries and techniques used to discover them were just as interesting as if they found the real things.

The Vatican laboratories were able to use X-ray fluorescence and electron microscopes to discover the chemical elements of materials, and infrared and ultraviolet analyses revealed colors and images hidden to the naked eye. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified the presence of organic compounds and the project was topped off with CT-scans to create 3D images of the contents. These analysis revealed the presence of zinc and tin in the paints and a metal laminate used to create false aging. Then “multiplanar reconstruction” of hundreds of CT-scan images pieced together revealed a 19th century nail that could not have been seen on the initial X-ray. Also, with carbon dating, restorers found that the bones wrapped inside were actually adult bones from the middle ages.

The way these forgeries were crafted has been at least as much of a mystery as the riddle of true ancient Mummies. The conference on January 22, 2015 not only revealed strides in how to identify

fakes, but also sparked discussion on the merit of these forgeries as works of historical record and even pieces of genuine 19th century artistic ingenuity.

Examples of apothecary potions Fake Mummy Undergoing “TAC” restoration © Musei Vaticani

Photo of Child Mummy Before Restoration © Vatican Museums

Fake Mummy, Inv. 5783, before restoration © Musei Vaticani

Mummy Forgery Continued from page 3


Patrons Enjoy An EnCHANTing Time At The AbbeyBy Patron Wendi Gundersen

On Sunday March 15th, Patrons Roger and Linda, Chaix Eileen and Bob Haub, and Pat

Manzo sponsored a lovely afternoon of Gregorian chant for over sixty patrons at St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange County. (Two foursomes of Patrons tackled Pelican Hill’s Ocean North Course in the morning to prepare for the afternoon with the priests.) After arriving at the Abbey, we all assembled in the church where Fr. Chyrsostom, the Choirmaster, gave us an excellent presentation about Gregorian chant. He explained that Gregorian chant is audible art because it weds the beautiful to the true.

Fr. Chrysostom then further explained that each language has its own genus of musical expression. To demonstrate this point, he and a fellow Norbertine chanted in Hebrew, Latin, and English. The melodic differences were very interesting: the Hebrew was more melancholic in tone than the Latin and English chants; each language has a unique sound that matches each language’s natural form of expression. The different sounds affected the soul in different ways.

Our youngest Patron in attendance, Cecilia Gundersen, loved the chanting so much she tried to chant herself. Fortunately for her, Fr. Choirmaster invited us all to chant Esto Nobis in Latin together at the end of his presentation. And because chant can start on any note, we could all comfortably

sing together.Following the Gregorian chant

presentation, we were led outside to learn about the Abbey and its grounds. As Fr. Jerome and Fr. Ambrose led us through the exquisite grounds covered in rose bushes he had planted, he told us the history of the Abbey.

St. Norbert founded the Canons Regular of Premontre in France in 1121. The Norbertines of St. Michael’s Abbey began with seven Hungarian-refugee priests in 1961. Originally a priory, they petitioned Rome to become an abbey in 1984 after growing in numbers. Now St. Michael’s consists of nearly fifty priests and thirty seminarians studying for the

priesthood. For the last fifty years, the Fathers at St. Michael’s Abbey have quietly and faithfully served God’s people, primarily in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, and have established deep roots as they serve a broad spectrum of faithful throughout Southern California.

The large and growing number of monks inspired the Abbott, Patron Eugene Hayes, to launch a project for a new abbey. The new St. Michael’s Abbey will be located coninuted on page 6Patrons gathered in the Abbey Church

Sherry and Richard Van Meter with Frs. Jerome, Ambrose and Hugh

Felicity Gundersen offering a rose to Fr. Ambrose


10 minutes down the road from the current abbey on 300 acres abutting the Cleveland National Forest in a rural canyon setting. The monks have purchased the land and begun grading the 46 acre building site for the first six buildings: the monastery, abbey church, administration, conference/meeting rooms, convent for the Dominican sisters, and a cemetery with chapel. The second phase will focus on the preparatory school, gymnasium, pool, sports field, and an endowment to maintain all the buildings, gardens, athletic fields and the site.

The Norbertines fill immediate religious and educational needs for the community that would otherwise be unmet: they staff parishes; operate and teach in schools; provide chaplains to colleges, the military, and communities of religious women; preach retreats; and conduct spiritual and educational services in prisons, youth detention facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes. Also, the Abbey is the site for day retreats, bible studies, a boys’ summer camp, and a boarding high school that is one of the top-fifty Catholic high schools in the nation.

The spare and basic facilities are augmented by the astounding beauty of the roses. Fr. Jerome began planting the roses in November 2004. He chose roses for their adaptability to California’s

The Abbey continued from page 5

Fr. Ambrose giving a tour of the Abbey grounds

Felicity and Cecilia sharing fragrant rose blossoms

Norbertine Monks at Vespers


climate and for their historical significance. There are 104 varieties of roses and over 500 bushes on the grounds. Some of the varieties are now found only on the Abbey’s grounds.

As Fr. Jerome showed us the different varieties, he picked some blooms for us to enjoy. Cecilia Gundersen and her older sister Felicity assisted Fr. Jerome by passing the blooms around for us to smell. Each rose had a unique perfume: some were spicy and some were sweet. All were beautiful.

After the tour, we went back to the Abbey church for Vespers. During Vespers our hearts and minds were lifted to God as we listened to the dozens of young and mature Norbertines chant. When Vespers ended, we headed to the courtyard to enjoy a delicious spread catered by a neighboring vineyard and mingle with several of the monks. The food was delicious. The wine was sublime. A good time was had by all!

Joe Knott teeing off

Ken Miller arranged the golf Patron golfers at Pelican Hill

Dennis Alfieri and Ken Feher with Fr. Hugh

Richard Grat with Fr. Sebastian

CALIFORNIA PATRONS OF THE ARTS IN THE

VATICAN MUSEUMS

301 N. Lake Ave., Suite 900Pasadena, CA 91101Return Service Requested

NON PROFIT ORG.U.S.POSTAGE PAID

GLENDALE, CA PERMIT NO. 383

2015 Patrons Trip To Siena & RomeOctober 23 To October 31, 2015

Early Discounted Registration Ends April 15

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