Three new galleries dedicated to ancient treasures opened on September 16 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA).
The new galleries focus on three themes: Homer and the Epics, Dionysos and the Symposium and Theater and Performance and reflects a shift in the way the Museum has been presenting art so far, from chronological to thematic.
The MFA’s thematic galleries are part of a trend over the past decade or so, says Bruce Altshuler, director of New York University’s program in museum studies. “There’s a general feeling that personalized, narrative, thematic accounts are more accessible.” 230 works, primarily from the 6th century to the 4th century BC, are displayed in the collections, including marble and bronze sculptures, ceramic and metal vases, and terracotta figurines.
Many objects on view have been meticulously restored -some for the first time in a century. The fascinating displays will captivate anyone who has been inspired by Greek theater, mythology or the legendary heroes of Homer’s timeless epics.
It is noted that the MFA’s renowned collection of Greek art contains some of the most visually complicated objects in the Museum. iPads will be placed near two particularly detailed vases in order to explain the narratives and “unpack” their symbols.
