February 2008 marks the 150^th anniversary that the “white lady”, i.e. the Virgin Mary, appeared to a little girl called Bernadette Soubirous in a cave situated near the Pyrenees-based Lourdes. For this anniversary, at the request of the Grotto to Our Lady of Lourdes and financed by offerings of pilgrims from many countries, Maria de Faykod’s monumental 17-station work entitled The Way of the Cross of Lourdes was completed exactly 10 years ago. The transubstantiated marble statues convey the incomprehensible mystery of Christ’s suffering and resurrection, thereby providing hope and strength to all those beholding them.

“I will never forget the moment I inadvertently got to see while we were on a pilgrimage to Lourdes: a young boy sitting in a wheelchair, using his paralysed, almost non-moving hand, was reaching out, little by little, towards Jesus’ hand at one of the stations of Maria de Faykod’s The Way of the Cross of Lourdes. He eventually managed to touch Jesus’ hand. Upon seeing this, I was fully convinced that that very boy in Lourdes could reach God.”

Béres foundation undertook a gratifying task when two years ago it decided to make this highly impacting and influential group of sculptures known to audiences in Hungary. In the scope of this photo exhibition, The Way of the Cross of Lourdes is presented through large-size canvas prints exhibiting art photos prepared by the sculptor herself. In fact, the photo exhibition has already toured several prestigious places in Hungary and has been highly acclaimed among all audiences. It is a great pleasure for us that, with support from the Hungarian Academy of Arts, Pesti Vigadó’s visitors are now able to see this photo exhibition.

President of Béres Foundation Klára Béres