On Friday, February 17, at 11:00 and 11:30 a.m., curators at The Met will discuss works in the permanent collection that were created between the fourth millennium B.C. and the 19th century in the lands that are now Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Yemen—four of the seven countries affected by the recent U.S. travel ban. These programs, called Four Chats for Four Countries: Informal Curatorial Talks about Art from Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Yemen, include an informal ten-minute presentation, followed by conversation with visitors. The talks will take place in the galleries of Ancient Near Eastern Art and of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, South Asia, and Later South Asia. The series continues through March 31. Each week’s talks will focus on different works of art.
Friday, February 17
11:00 a.m.
Kim Benzel, Acting Associate Curator in Charge, Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art
The Arts at Nimrud in Ancient Iraq (Gallery 401)
Martina Rugiadi, Assistant Curator, Department of Islamic Art
Iran, The Met, and Archaeology (Gallery 453)
11:30 a.m.
Caitlin Chaves Yates, Mellon Curatorial Fellow, Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art
A Glimpse of Syria’s Early History: The Eye Idols of Tell Brak (Gallery 402)
Deniz Beyazit, Assistant Curator, Department of Islamic Art
The Art of Inlaid Metal from Iran to Syria (Galleries 453 and 454)
Images: Relief panel. Neo-Assyrian, ca. 883–859 B.C. Mesopotamia, Nimrud (ancient Kalhu). Gypsum alabaster. Gift of John D. Rockefeller Jr., 1932 (32.143.7). Dado Panel. 10th century. Excavated in Iran, Nishapur. Stucco; carved, with some cast plaster elements. Rogers Fund, 1940 (40.170.439). Eye idol. Middle Uruk, ca. 3700–3500 B.C. Syria, Tell Brak. Gypsum alabaster. Gift of The Institute of Archaeology, The University of London, 1951 (51.59.11). Candlestick with Enthronement Scene. Second quarter 13th century. Attributed to Jazira, probably Mosul. Country of Origin Iraq. Brass; engraved, incised, inlaid with silver. Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, (91.1.563)
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