Page 22 - Beholding Liberty!

22 BEHOLDING LIBERTY!
on Philhellenism and its decisive contribution to the success of the Greek issue (unit II.8 The phe- nomenon of Philhellenism). In addition, as an intercalated and final topic, a unit is presented including significant works of art, both European and Greek, that present the visual depiction of the Greek Rev- olution in an emblematic manner and over time (unit II.9 The visual memoralization of the Struggle).
Finally, the Adjutants’ Hall has been transformed into a Heroon of the Struggle (III), in which visitors familiarize themselves with its major figures, through their own words and deeds, attempting at the same time a broader reframing of the evaluative and symbolic framework in which their activity is registered. The “heroes of the sword” (units III.1-9), who took yataghans, guns and swords into their hands, unite their forces with those of the “heroes of the stylus” (unit III.10) who, with political pamphlets containing messages of national uprising, essays of a patriotic nature and literary works, conducted their own useful struggle, and together they granted us the precious gift of Freedom. Upon departure, the visitor advances to the exhibition area “Farewell to arms”, which includes texts and im- ages that originated in the years immediately after the Revolution, awakening in them and ensuring historically the Struggle for Independence, with its memories still fresh.
As a whole, the main exhibition units, coupled with the additional thematic ones, aim at the multi- faceted revelation of all the critical parameters in the complex course of Hellenism toward freedom, creating a multilevel narrative which, in terms of planning, has been developed on two levels, in es- sentially three halls and in corresponding large units.
The year 1834 was programmatically chosen as a terminus ante quem for the exhibition narrative and the corresponding materials, year in which the capital was transferred to Athens, in order for the cited sources to approximate the historic events reported - thus transmitting to visitors their almost synchronic echo and manifesting the early perceptions of the Greek Revolution.
Another methodological choice concerns the presence in the Exhibition of solely original, authentic exhibits, with no digital copies, irrespective of their importance. With this thought, 367 unique objects converse with the monumental ensemble of the frescoes of the Parliament Building, in order to “en- liven” with text and image the course of the Greeks in their fight for freedom.
Regarding the typology of the exhibits, a significant percentage of the exhibition material comprises all styles of works of art and iconography: paintings and prints, statuettes and medals, as well as artistic objects – such as decorative vases, plates and clocks – depict scenes of battles and their protagonists. Most of these images, significant not only from a historical perspective, but also for their artistic value, are products of the philhellenic movement, as it developed particularly during the second quarter of the 19th century onwards.
Many of these exhibits were drawn from the Hellenic Parliament Art Collection, while a significant number of selected pieces, representing the diffusion of philhellenic art to the European public, were lent generously to the Exhibition by the famous Collection of Michalis and Dimitra Varkarakis, who virtually alone created a unique thematic museum. We express our heart-felt thanks personally to the assiduous collector and warm nobleman Mr. Michalis Varkarakis. Three emblematic paintings were lent by the Averof Museum of Metsovo, while isolated works of art, necessary for the exhibition narra- tive, by Mr Michalis Ntais and Mr Ilias Boubouris, to whom we express our grateful thanks.
A special position among the visual material is held by two emblematic works, which have been placed in the Peristyle, expressing in the most eloquent manner the dialogue between foreign antiq- uity-lovers and Greek Enlighteners: on the one hand the impressive French neoclassical wall tapestry