Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt
Sunday, 1/27, 2-3:30 PM
When looking at Egyptian art, the poet Rainer Maria Rilke claimed he saw the “pollen of blossoming divinity.” The art and architecture of ancient Egypt indeed leaves onlookers with a sense of awe and grandeur. At the same time, when compared to the art of ancient Greece or the Italian Renaissance, Egyptian art may seem inaccessible or archaic to us. In this lecture from The Oriental Institute, using some of the masterpieces of Egyptian art, including some artifacts in the Oriental Institute Museum, we will discuss a few simple rules of thumb to keep in mind when exploring the Egyptian gallery of a museum. We will also explore the most important features of Egyptian architecture, so you can understand the original contexts of much of what you see. Brought to you in partnership with River Forest Township.
