On view from September 21 through October 14th.
We are pleased to introduce our latest exhibition, "GODDESS." Ancient Greek and Roman artists regularly portrayed a number of female divinities in their artistic repertoire. Statues of goddesses in antiquity were objects of religious reverence. Worshippers could appeal directly to a goddess through interaction with her sculpture in a temple. The ancients were always mindful that goddesses were to be respected and that they could at any time exact terrible retribution upon the impious.
The Olympian deities were formidable and were depicted to convey gravitas. Athena and Artemis were chaste goddesses who were to be feared and respected. Hera, Tyche, and Demeter, the goddesses of marriage, fortune, and the harvest respectively, were serious figures and were portrayed as such. Another class of Greek female divinities including Nemesis, Hekate, Cybele, and the Fates concerned themselves with the darker aspects of divine influence on mortals. Goddesses were portrayed in reverent images by ancient artists. They were depicted clothed and aloof, with serene and powerful expressions.
Ancient Greek and Roman artists had to turn to another deity if they wished to portray the female body. Aphrodite was the ideal subject for the ancient sculptor to portray divine feminine sexuality. The goddess occupied a less serious place among the pantheon of Greek gods. Working in the first half of the fourth century BC, the Greek sculptor Praxiteles was the first to portray Aphrodite fully nude. This act was not seen as blasphemous. It sparked a movement in the Hellenistic Period that followed to portray the goddess not only nude, but in a variety of different revealing poses. Other sensual subjects followed including the three Graces, Nymphs and ecstatic Maenads.
"GODDESS" explores images of the divine female form in antiquity. The exhibition features sculpture of Aphrodite in marble, as well as other female divinities including Fortuna, Persephone, Hekate, Nymphs and Nereids. Images in pottery, mosaic, terracotta, and numismatics as well as objects from other cultures including Egypt and Mesopotamia are also on view.
Past Exhibitions
new book:
ANCIENT GREEK HELMETS:
A Complete Guide and Catalog
A Complete Guide and Catalog
From 03/21/2019 to 04/27/2019
NEW COLOR IMAGES:
The photography of Joseph Coscia Jr.
And accompanying ancient glass through December 7
The photography of Joseph Coscia Jr.
And accompanying ancient glass through December 7
From 10/25/2018 to 11/25/2018
RECENT ACQUISITIONS
From 05/10/2018 to 05/31/2018
REALM OF OSIRIS: Art of the Egyptian Mummy
Through November 18
From 10/26/2017 to 11/18/2017
RECENT IMAGES:
The photography of Joseph Coscia
The photography of Joseph Coscia
From 05/19/2017 to 06/30/2017
CERAMIC
on view through February 25
From 01/19/2017 to 02/25/2017
Light on Stone:
the photography of Joseph Coscia
From 10/20/2016 to 12/24/2016
Paintings of John Woodrow Kelley
Through October 15
From 09/15/2016 to 10/15/2016
MEDITERRANEAN MOSAICS
From 06/09/2016 to 07/30/2016
GODS of ANTIQUITY
From 04/07/2016 to 05/28/2016
ART of WAR December through February 2016
From 12/10/2015 to 02/13/2016
From 10/29/2015 to 12/05/2015 On view in our Chelsea gallery from October 29 through December 5 From 09/17/2015 to 10/24/2015 On view exclusively at our Chelsea gallery from September 17 to October 24 From 04/16/2015 to 05/30/2015 On view exclusively at our Chelsea gallery from April 16th to May 30. From 02/01/2015 to 04/11/2015 Our inaugural show in our newly opened Chelsea gallery, on view now through April 11th, explores the widely varied depictions of the human face in ancient art. From 11/15/2011 to 12/31/2011 From 06/01/2008 to 06/30/2008 Our current exhibition includes a number of rare and unusual examples of ancient arms and armor including, Greek bronze helmets and horse armor, Roman legionary bricks, Celtic swords and spears, as well as a number of ancient projectile points. From 03/27/2008 to 04/30/2008 A special exhibition examining the iconography of women in ancient art
Art of Ancient America
PAX ROMANA: Roman art exhibition
SYMPOSIUM: Wine and Revelry in Antiquity
the face of antiquity
Neo-Assyrian Arms and Armor on Display
ANCIENT ARMS AND ARMOR
FEMINA: Women of Antiquity
