LUC TUYMANS – BASILICA DI SAN GIORGIO MAGGIORE

The Benedictine community Benedicti Claustra Onlus and the Draiflessen Collection are presenting two new paintings by Luc Tuymans - one of the most important painters of his generation - in the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice. The works temporarily replace the monumental Tintoretto paintings The Last Supper and The Manna Miracle, which are currently being restored with the support of Save Venice.

Tuymans' paintings, created especially for the presbytery, are inspired by personal travel impressions and everyday moments. With their unusual color palette, distorted perspectives and an atmosphere between dream and reality, they invite contemplative contemplation. Without a clear narrative thread, they reveal traces of the divine in the experience of the ordinary - a silent dialog between art, faith and the present.

The presentation is accompanied by a contemporary illuminated manuscript, which is displayed on the Badalone, the monumental lectern in the main choir. It joins a growing collection of modern manuscripts initiated by the abbey in 2019.

Curated by Carmelo A. Grasso (Benedicti Claustra Onlus), Dr. Corinna Otto (Draiflessen Collection) and independent curator Ory Dessau, this project exemplifies the ongoing commitment of the Benedictine monks of San Giorgio Maggiore, who have been creating new connections between sacred space and contemporary art for over a decade.

Luc Tuymans – Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore
Abbey of San Giorgio Maggiore,
Venice 9 May – 23 November 2025
Opening hours:
May–September: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
October-November: 10 a.m.–6 p.m
Closed on Mondays
Free admission