Frankish Art in American Collections

The wealth of Frankish objects in American collections provides a comprehensive picture of the character of Frankish art from its inception in the Late Roman era through its metamorphosis into Carolingian art. The Frankish holdings of The Metropolitan Museum of Art—in particular the magnificent J. Pierpont Morgan collection—are in themselves sufficient to demonstrate all the elements necessary for an understanding of Frankish art and how it led to Carolingian and later medieval art. The Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore also has a fine collection of Frankish art. Smaller American collections, too, each play a role in defining the complex nature of Frankish art. This publication will provide the first survey ever of American museum holdings in Frankish art.