Memorial Art Gallery
Passport to the Past
Arts of the Ancient World, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe,
from the collections of the Memorial Art Gallery
Where in the World . . . ? The Eastern Hemisphere
Indian
Ocean
When . . . ? A Memorial Art Gallery Timeline
What do “BCE” and “CE” mean?
BCE (Before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era) refer to the same time periods as the more traditional BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, which means “The Year of our Lord”).
The Ancient Middle East
Askos in the Form of a Ram
Persian, 999—700 BCE,
Terracotta; 67.39
Cuneiform Tablet with Case
Sumerian, Ur III, 2049 BCE,
Clay; 54.58.4.1-2
Drachm of King Shapur I
Sassanian, 241—272 CE
Silver; 95.24
Horse Bit with Cheekpieces
in the Form of Winged Sphinxes ,
Iranian, 1100—700 BCE
Bronze; 48.39
Master of Animals Finial
Iranian, 799—700 BCE,
Bronze; 2007.35
Pyxis ,
Syrian, 899—700 BCE,
Porphyry; 49.14
Worshipper Bearing an Animal Offering
Mesopotamian, ca. 1800s BCE,
Clay; 45.60
Tribute Bearer from Persepolis
Persian, ca. 358—338 BCE,
Limestone; 44.1
Belt Claps with Horse and Goat,
Georgian; from Transcaucasia, 1 – 200 CE
Bronze; 2007.34
How do you think these objects were used?
What do they tell us about the cultures that made and used them?
What tools or methods did the artists use to make these objects?
Ancient Egypt
A
Canopic Jars (set of 4), 664—332 BCE
Limestone; 3-6.81L
B
The God Osiris as a
Mummified Man,
1069—332 BCE,
Bronze; 51.116
Inner Coffin of Pa-debehu-Aset,
332—30 BCE,
Wood, gesso, pigments, gilding;
2000.11.2
The God Horus as a Falcon,
664—525 BCE
Bronze; 53.44
B
New Year’s Bottle,
664—525 BCE,
Terracotta, glaze; 51.200
Sphinx ,
332—30 BCE,
Granite;
51.307
Black-topped Red Ware Vessel,
ca. 5300—3000 BCE
Terracotta; 28.106
What do these pairs of objects have in common?
In what ways are they different?
What do they tell us about ancient Egyptian culture?
King Ny-user-ra,
2390—2360 BCE,
Red granite; 42.54
China
Dragon, 220—580 CE, Bronze; 58.31
Ceremonial Food Vessel, Type Gui,
1000s—early 900s BCE, Bronze; 42.15
Horse, 600s—900s CE,
Terracotta, glaze; 30.26
Tomb Tile with Tiger,
Winged Horses, and Phoenixes,
1—299 CE
Clay and pigments; 42.16
Court Musicians from a Tomb
600s—early 700s CE,
Terracotta, pigments; 31.2
A Bearer of Good Wishes:
Fragment of a Taoist Wall Painting,
1600—1644 CE,
Ink and pigments on clay; 86.117
Bodhisattva Guanyin on Mt. Potola,
early 1200s,
Wood, pigments; 42.21
Stele with Taoist Deity,
960—1279 CE, Stone; 36.51
Can you match each object with the area’s religious beliefs or traditions?
What evidence did you use?
Many new ideas came into China by sea or the Silk Road; can you
find examples of outside cultural influences in these objects?
India & Southeast Asia
The God Ganesa
Thai,1300s,
Bronze; 81.10
The God Surya, Indian, 600 CE
Buff sandstone; 61.12
A Royal Couple on a Terrace,
Indian, 1800—1850,
Gouache on ivory; 2007.20
Shadow Puppet (Wayang Kulit) of Puntadéwa
Javanese, late 1700s,
Buffalo hide and horn; 37.16
Head of the Bodhisattva
Avalokitesvara,
Cambodian, 1000s—1100s
Stone; 36.4
Tara, Indian, 1100s,
Black chlorite; 61.13
Head of a Buddha,
Thai, 1350—1757,
Bronze; 30.33
Calligraphic Frieze with Inscription from the Qur’an , North Indian, 1400s CE,
Red sandstone; 2009.8
Some of these objects have something important in common – What is it?
How many different ways can you sort these objects?
Can you guess how cultural ideas spread from one area to another?
THE GREEK WORLD
Kraters with Chariot Procession, Mycenaean, 1275—1225 BCE,
Terracotta; 51.203-204
Corinthian Helmet,
late 600s BCE, Bronze;
2008.70
Protome, 450—425 BCE,
Terracotta, pigments; 88.5
Grave Stele, 300s BCE,
Pentelic marble; 36.54
Black Figure Kylix with Dionysian Revelers, 500s BCE,
Terracotta; 29.90
Piriform Jar, Minoan,
ca. 1250—1150 BCE,
Terracotta; 2006.76
Red Figure Pelike,
400s BCE
Terracotta; 29.89
Wreath of Oak Leaves,
ca. 300 BCE, Gold; 99.57
What do these objects have in common?
How many different ways could they be categorized?
What do they tell us about ancient Greek culture?
Figure of a Woman
(Tanagra Type),
323—90 BCE,
Terracotta, pigments; 66.14
Other Mediterranean Cultures
Cinerary Urn, Carthaginian,
700s BCE,
Terracotta; 25.42
Askos in the Form of a Horse,
Carthaginian, before 146 BCE,
Terracotta; 25.41
The God Mars as a Warrior
Etruscan, , 400s BCE
Bronze; 53.41
Oinochoe (Pitcher),
Etruscan, 400—301 BCE,
Terracotta; 51.179
Cinerary Urn with Reclining Figure,
Etruscan, 200—100 BCE
Terracotta; 44.49a-b
Oil Lamp, Carthaginian, before 146 BCE
Terracotta; 20.73
Oil Lamp, Carthaginian, before 146 BCE,
Terracotta; 20.75
Bombylios (Baby Feeder),
Carthaginian, before 146 BCE,
Terracotta; 25.51
Hercules,
Etruscan, 400s BCE,
Bronze; 73.18
Votive Head of a Woman,
Etruscan, 300—1 BCE,
Terracotta; 47.14
Kylix, Etruscan, 560—450 BCE,
Terracotta; 5 1.180
These objects are grouped by culture – what are the two cultures?
Where are they located?
What other categories could you use to group these objects?
North Africa
Jar in the Shape of a Human Head
Egyptian, n.d., Terracotta; 28.497
Sgraffito Ware Vessel
Sharif Al-Abwami, Egyptian, 1300s CE
Glazed ceramic; 51.350
Grotesque Head (Theater Character)
Ptolemaic Egyptian, 200s BCE
Clay; 28.84.7
Cinerary Urn
Carthaginian, 700s BCE, Terracotta; 25.42
Figure of a Goddess of the Dancer Type
Predynastic Egyptian, before 3400 BCE,
Terracotta; 28.376
Askos in the Form of a Horse
Carthaginian, before 146 BCE,
Terracotta; 25.41
Standing Female Figure
Coptic Egyptian, 799—700 CE,
Terracotta, pigments; 28.264
Vase with Acanthus Design
Roman Egyptian, 1—99 CE,
Terracotta, glaze; 51.198
Where in North Africa were these objects created?
What tools and skills did the artists use? How do you think the objects were used?
Many objects were exported to other places –
do these remind you of any other objects you have seen?
THE ROMAN WORLD
Double-headed Perfume Flasks,
ca. 200—400 CE,
Blown glass; 28.68.1-2
Tyche, Patron Deity
of a Municipality,
Roman, 1—199 CE
(copy of Greek original)
Marble, 49.73
Wall Fragment with Cupid Holding a Mask,
from Pompeii, before 79 CE, Fresco; 28.75
Portrait Head of an Old Man
with a Beard, 100s CE,
Commemorative Coin of the
Marble; 46.39
Emperor Constantine,
307—334 CE, Bronze; 95.25
Togatus, 1—99 CE,
Marble; 73.146
Sarcophagus with Portrait Medallion, 250—274 CE, 49.72
Mosaic Floor Panel with Head of Tethys,
Made in Antioch, Syria, 200s CE,
Stone and glass; 42.2
How many different materials have been used to make these objects?
What can these objects tell us about how the Romans lived?
How do the objects compare with those we use today?
A
Medieval Europe
A
A
B
Madonna and Child,
ca. 1300-1350
French; Made in
Île-de-France
Limestone, polychromy,
gilding; 28.466
Châsse (Reliquary) with Scenes
from the Life of St. Stephen,
French, 1220—1230,
Enamel, gilded copper; 49.20
Mourner’s Niche from the
Tomb of Philip the Bold,
Jean de Marville, Netherlandish
(active 1366 - 1389);
Marble, 49.51
Crucifixion with God the Father,
Giovanni del Biondo, Italian
(active 1356—1399, 51.26
Console with Doubting Thomas
French, early 1200s,
Limestone, paint; 49.76
Madonna and Child with Saints Francis of Assisi, John the Baptist, Peter and Dominic,
Nardo di Cione, Italian (active 1343 - d. 1365/66 )
Tempera on panel; 57.4
What do these pairs of objects have in common?
How are they different?
What do they tell us about Medieval European culture?
The Islamic World
Calligraphic Frieze with Inscription from the Qur’an,
North Indian, 1400s CE, Red sandstone; 2009.8
Bowl with Acanthus Design
Iranian, 1200s CE
Glazed terracotta; 51.317
Kubachi Ware Tile
Iranian, 1500s CE,
Glazed terracotta; 21.2
Sgraffito Ware Vessel
Sharif Al-Abwami, Egyptian, 1300s CE
Glazed ceramic; 51.350
Plate, Turkish, 1500s CE,
Glazed terracotta; 79.91
Section of a Qur’an endowed by Sultan Qansuh al-Ghawri
Egyptian, Mamluk Dynasty, 1ate 1400s CE
Ink and gold on parchment; 2008.69
Ghiordes Prayer Rug
Turkish, 28.459
Lusterware Bowl with Seated Figures,
Iranian, 1200s
52.11
Leaf from a Manuscript of Poetry,
Iranian, 1600s CE
Ink and gold on parchment; 28.317
How have the artists decorated these objects?
How many different countries are these objects from?
What does that say about them? How do you think the objects were used?
The Renaissance in Europe
Adoration of the Magi
Master of the Holy Blood ,
Flemish (active early 1500s),
80.43
Saint James,
French, late 1400s,
Limestone, paint;
94.49
Saint Elizabeth
German, ca. 1500,
Wood; 57.7
Marriage Chest (Minnekastchen)
German, late 1400s, 2008.2
Portrait of a Boy of the
Bracciforte Family of
Piacenza, 1540
Girolamo Mazzola Bedoli,
Italian (ca. 1505 - ca. 1569);
76.13
Madonna and Child
Enthroned with Angels
Master of the St. Ursula Legend,
Flemish (active 1470-95),
before 1483; 48.11
Partial Armor made for the Dukes
of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel,
Brunswick Armory, German, ca. 1562
Etched steel, leather; 2006.57
Conversion of Saint Paul,
Francesco Ubertini, Italian
(1494?—1557), 1530--35,
Oil on panel, 54.2
Portrait of a Caesar,
Circle of Gregorio di Lorenzo,
Italian (active 1461—1473),
Marble; 65.8
Wedding Cutlery Set with Case in the Form of a Fish
French, ca. 1550
Ivory, steel, leather, wood; 2010.9
How many ways can these objects be sorted?
How do you think the objects in each group were used?
Look closely at each object—what skills and tools did the artists use?
Japan
Fabric Stencil (Katagami), 1800s,
Mulberry paper; 84.15.4
Tsuba (sword guard), 1500s—1700s,
Bronze; 66.9.38
Lacquered Incense Box (Ko-Dansu), 1600s—1800s,
Wood lacquered in gold and red; 77.98
Bodhisattva Kannon, 1100s,
Wood, polychromy; 74.83
Screen: Court Ladies, 1700s, Watercolor and ink on paper; 57.6
Sokuhi, 1616 –1671
Sho Calligraphy
Ink on paper; 65.10
Sake Bottle
Ceramic; 65.45
Four-Tiered Imari Ware Food Container,
1600s—1800s, Porcelain; 81.37
How do you think each of these objects was used?
Describe some of the detailed decoration you see.
What skills or tools did the artists use?
Sub-Saharan Africa
Yaka Culture, D. R. Congo
Crest Mask, Wood, fibers, pigment; 72.54
Bamana Culture, Mali
Crest Mask: Antelope (Chi Wara),
Wood, fibers, metal, shells;
Male- 69.107, Female and Baby- 93.14
Yaoure or Baule Culture,
Côte d'Ivoire
Spoon, Wood; 64.102
Yoruba Culture, Nigeria
Twin Figures (Ere Ibeji),
Wood, pigment, beads, cowrie shells, fiber,
sacrificial materials; 65.9.1-2
Asante Culture, Ghana
Goldweight: Man w/ Pipe,
Brass; 53.76.1
Mende Culture, Sierra Leone
Helmet Mask (Sowei),
Wood; 72.52
Senufo Culture, Côte d’Ivoire
Champion-Cultivator Staff
Wood, fiber, shells; 71.64
Western Pende Culture,
D.R. Congo
Ivory Pendant Amulet
(Ikhoko), 51.114
What different materials have been used to make these objects?
Makonde Culture, Mozambique
Crest Mask (Lipiko), ca. 1950--60
Wood, human hair, pigments;
2006.71
How are these objects used? How can you tell?
Can you find all of these modern countries on a map?
Fur Culture, Sudan
Ivory Bracelet, 67.64
Oceania
Kayan-Borbor Culture, Papua New Guinea,
Slit Gong Drum, ca. 1940
Wood, paint; 79.19
Abelam Culture, Papua New Guinea
Yam Mask, Grass, pigment; 74.78
Arambak Culture,
Papua New Guinea
Hook Figure (Yipwon),
Wood, shell; 70.82
Waresi Culture,
Papua New Guinea
Spirit Figure (Mindja),
Wood, paint; 74.76
Era River Region,
Papua New Guinea
Spirit Board (Gope),
Wood, paint; 87.84
Iatmul Culture, Papua New Guinea
Mask,
Wood, shells, hair, pigment; 77.158
Middle Sepik River Region,
Papua New Guinea
Body Mask,
Cane fibers, shells, feathers;
73.138
What materials have been used to make these objects?
What can they tell us about these people and their culture?
Describe the decorations. Can you guess what might have inspired the artists?
Details of Works of Art from the Collection of the Memorial Art Gallery
Sumerian
Cuneiform Tablet with Case,
54.48.17a
Roman; made in Antioch, Syria
Mosaic with the Head of Tethys,
42.2
Roman
Glass Vessel, 51.136
Egyptian,
Inner Coffin of Pa-debehu-Aset,
2001.11.2
Etruscan, Oinochoe, 51.179
Thai, Head of Buddha, 30.33
Japanese
Four Tier Imari Ware Container,
81.37
Iranian
Leaf from a Manuscript of Poetry,
28.317
Chinese
A Bearer of Good Wishes;
Fragment from a Taoist Wall
Painting, 30.26
Roman,. Togatus, 73.146
Yoruba Culture, Nigeria
Twin Figure (Ere Ibeji),
65.9.2
Raffaello del Garbo, Italian
Madonna and Child with Angel,
47.30
Abelam Culture, Papua New Guinea
Yam Mask, 74.78
Chinese
Ceremonial Food Vessel Type Gui,
42.15
Chinese, Mongolian
Harness Ornament with Ibexes,
73.66
French, Saint James, 94.49
Indian
Return to Ayodhya, 83.55
Paul Vredeman de Vries. Flemish
Interior of a Gothic Cathedral,
98.19