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Shadow of the Sphinx: Ancient Egypt and Its Influence June 17 through November 25, 2012
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ince the dawn of recorded time, no civilization has mesmerized and influenced the world like ancient Egypt. This fascinating culture and its impact will be explored in the exhibition Shadow of the Sphinx: Ancient Egypt and Its Influence opening Sunday, June 17, in the Museum of
Art. Ancient Egyptian artworks, with the promise to serve the dead in eternal life, have mystified Western artists for centuries. From the simple lines of ancient hieroglyphs to gilded mummy masks, Shadow of the Sphinx will present ancient Egyptian works never before brought together from private collections and museums. The Clock, ca. 1880, French, made for Tiffany & Co., exhibition will examine marble, slate, bronze, glass, metal, gilt. Munsonthe varied and tremen- Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Museum of Art, 2000.21.1 dous inspiration Egyptian artifacts have had on fine and decorative arts for more than 100 years.
The Ancient World The ancient tomb relics on view include a coffin that features colorful figures and hieroglyphs, a selection of gilded mummy masks, a canopic jar, and shabtis—the statues that would serve as laborers in the afterlife. These artworks will familiarize visitors with the imagery that permeates Egyptianinspired paintings, sculpture and decorative arts from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Rediscovery
Baboon Figure, Egyptian, Old Kingdom, gold. Collection of Sue McGovern-Huffman, Sands of Time Ancient Art
Major historic events—Napoleon’s campaigns from 1798-1801, the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, and the relocation of the obelisks Cleopatra’s Needles in London in 1878 and New York City’s Central Park in 1881—mark
Westerners’ fascination with the exotic and rich history of ancient Egypt. When King Tut’s tomb was opened in 1922, the obsession with allthings-Egyptian exploded. The numerous scholars and scientists who traveled with Napoleon recorded ancient artifacts, architecture, and culture. The richly illustrated multi-volume book Description de l’Égypte, printed between 1809 and 1828, helped spark Europe’s and America’s abiding curiosity of Egyptian culture. Many pages of this rare document will be included in the exhibition, thanks to a generous loan from the Dahesh Museum of Art in New York City. During the 19th century painters traveled to the “exotic realm” usually referring to the Islamic lands in North Ernst Karl Eugen Koerner (German, 1846Africa, including Egypt. A stun- 1927), The Temple of Karnak, The Great Hypostyle Hall, 1890, Oil on canvas, ning array of striking paintings 31 ¼ x 18 ¼ in. Dahesh Museum of Art, of landscapes, ancient ruins, New York City 1995.114 and cities will be lent to the exhibition by the Dahesh Museum of Art. Many of the works, such as Ernst Karl Eugen Koener’s The Temple of Karnak, The Great Hypostyle Hall (1890), captivated viewers with colorful details of renowned ancient ruins. Some artists romanticized ancient figures. Frederick Arthur Bridgman’s histrionic Cleopatra on the Terraces of Philae (1896) epitomizes the wistful versions of history that became incorporated into 19th-century popular culture and 20th-century movies. Continued on page 2
Lead Corporate Sponsor: Adirondack Financial Services, Corp. Sponsors: The Arthur Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Raouf Kodsy and Family Exhibition Organized with the Collabroration of the Dahesh Museum of Art, New York City
Cocktail attire Your ticket includes admittance to the exhibition that evening. Purchase tickets through the Ticket Office at 797-0055 Exhibition organized with the collaboration of the Dahesh Museum of Art, New York City