Thursday, February 04, 2016

MMFA 2016: POMPEII

POMPEII
February 6 - September 5, 2016


The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is presenting a new exhibition POMPEII, about the tragic demise of the Roman city when Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. In a sense, MMFA is bringing Pompeii back to life with many facts, artefacts and visual presentations of the splendour of this ancient city.


The exhibition has been organized by the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and the MMFA, in collaboration with the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli and the Soprintendenza Pompei.


A selection of more than 220 of the best preserved works from the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, the largest repository of archeological objects, and a;so from the site of Pompeii itself, which is managed by the Soprintendenza Pompei. Some of the works also come from the neighbouring city of Herculanum which was destroyed by the Vesuvius eruption along with Pompeii.


The exhibition takes visitors through thematic sections and immersive installations. It is a journey through time and space, where past and present interact, thus providing an opportunity to envision the daily life in Pompeii before the volcano erupted.


The exhibition presents the people of Pompeii, their history, their appetite for life and their delight in the sensual, as portrayed through the works on display. It includes frescos, mosaics, and statues made of bronze, terra cotta and marble, luxurious accessories, silverware, everyday utensils, religious paraphernalia and even a selection of erotica from the Secret Cabinet of the National Archeological Museum in Naples.


The MMFA has added three pieces to the Montreal's leg of the exhibition which come from the National Museum of Archeology in Naples that show the importance of physical activity and fitness for Pompeiians: fragments of a fresco depicting wrestlers, a strigil (a scraper for cleansing the skin)and an aryballos (a flask for massage oil). The exhibition also includes some works from the MMFA: a Harry A. Norton collection of Roman glass from the first century and some coins recently acquired from Dr. Demers.


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Hover your mouse over images for description and credits.

For more information, visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts website.


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