A Grand Legacy: Arts of the Ottoman Empire

, Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Harvard University Art Museums

Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Harvard University Art Museums

Founded seven hundred years ago, the Ottoman empire (1299–1922) at its zenith stretched onto the continents of Africa, Europe and Asia. The ambition, grandeur and complexity of the empire was brilliantly expressed in the arts. As a complement to Letters in Gold (on display October 9, 1999–January 2, 2000 at the Arthur M. Sackler Museum), this exhibition examines the grand legacy of Ottoman painting, ceramics, textiles and metalwork, using works from the permanent collection at the Art Museums.

A Grand Legacy is organized by Mary McWilliams, Norma Jean Calderwood Associate Curator of Islamic and Later Indian Art, and Rochelle Kessler, assistant curator of Islamic and later Indian art.