Roman Art Special Exhibitions
Current and Upcoming Museum Shows in 2007 and 2008
Seven special displays of Roman antiquities in the United States describe the classical civilization's art, history, society, religion and archaeology.
Students of ancient Rome (and those who've become fans of the HBO series of the same name) will be interested to learn about a number of museum exhibits touring the U.S. in 2007 and 2008, covering all aspects of this fascinating ancient culture, from the drama of the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in Pompeii to Greco-Roman religious artifacts and Roman portrait sculpture of patricians and their families.
A Day in Pompeii
More than 250 bronze and marble statues, gold coins, wall-sized fresco paintings, funerary objects and pieces of jewelry join eight body casts (plaster molds) of victims from Mount Vesuvius' historic eruption on August 24, 79 A.D. Together they present a vivid picture of everyday Roman life in the 1st Century A.D.
- Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN USA: June 27, 2007-January 6, 2008
From the Ashes of Vesuvius, In Stabiano: Exploring the Ancient Seaside Villas of the Roman Elite
Seventy-two objects from 89 B.C. to 79 A.D., buried and preserved in four villas of Stabiae by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, reveal the lifestyle of wealthy vacationing Romans through beautiful fresco paintings, household furnishings and everyday objects made of bronze, ceramic, glass, iron and terracotta.
- Dallas Museum of Art, TX USA: July 8-October 7, 2007
The Herculaneum Women and the Origins of Archaeology
Two ancient Roman female statues found accidentally in 1711 began the efforts to excavate Herculaneum, a town buried during Mount Vesuvius' eruption in 79 A.D., and nearby Pompeii. The Large and Small Herculaneum Women are on view, along with drawings, rare books, photographs, prints and sketchbooks that describe the sculptures' discovery and the archaeology of Herculaneum.
- The Getty Villa, Malibu, CA USA: July 12-November 5, 2007
The Roman World: Religions and Everyday Life
More than 140 coins, pieces of glassware and jewelry, mosaics, sculptures and textiles from the 5th Century B.C. to after the 4th Century A.D. describe Roman imperial society and its members' religions (those of the Greco-Roman, Christian, Jewish and Eastern traditions). Within the exhibition is Tree of Paradise: Jewish Mosaics from the Roman Empire, a show previously at the Brooklyn Museum.
- Dayton Art Institute, OH USA: September 21, 2007-January 6, 2008
Roman Art from the Louvre
More than 180 remarkable objects from Paris' Musée du Louvre illustrate the public and private lives of classical Romans from the 1st Century B.C. through the early years of the 4th Century A.D. Family, religion, funerary practices, war and intellectual achievements are interpreted through portraiture, glassware, sculptures, mosaics and metal vessels of the time.
- Indianapolis Museum of Art, IN USA: September 23, 2007-January 6, 2008
- Seattle Art Museum, WA USA: February 21-May 11, 2008
- Oklahoma City Museum of Art, OK USA: June 19-October 12, 2008
Pompeii: Tales from an Eruption
Marble statues, bronze sculptures, colorful frescoes (wall paintings), mosaics, jewelry, coins, skeletons and plaster body casts tell the story of the final days of Pompeii, Herculaneum and their environs immediately before Mount Vesuvius' volcanic eruption in the Summer of 79 A.D.
- Birmingham Museum of Art, AL USA: October 14, 2007-January 27, 2008
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX USA: March 2-June 22, 2008
Hadrian: Empire and Conflict
Hadrian (r. 177-138 A.D.), Rome's most mysterious ruler, is the subject of this special exhibition. The stabilization of his empire, which included much of Europe, northern Africa and western Asia, was the direct result of effective military exploits and ruthless suppression of revolts by his territorial subjects. An admirer of architecture and Greek culture, Rome's Pantheon, his Tivoli villa and the city of Antinoupolis were constructed during Hadrian's reign. Works from 35 international museums and recent archaeological excavations reveal aspects of the emperor's life and times.
- The British Museum, London, UK: July 24-October 26, 2008
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