Smithsonian to Show Historic Islamic Artworks From Louvre’s Collection
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC, will present “From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art,” opening September 26, featuring 26 Islamic artworks on loan from the Louvre Museum. The objects span 12 centuries and include carved rosewood doors, jade cups, and an oil painting of Persian ruler Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, with many pieces traveling to the United States for the first time. Works represent multiple regions and dynasties, including the Ottoman Empire (Turkey), the Mughal Empire (South Asia), and the Umayyad dynasty (Spain), and many were originally functional items associated with elite households. Co-curator Simon Rettig said the exhibition aims to move beyond presenting a “monolithic overview of Islamic art.”
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This story was covered in Van Gogh Returns, and the City’s Art Wars