In the Italian city of Pesaro last month, a court ruled that the Getty Museum’s prized “Victorious Youth” statue should be returned to Italy, and in response, the J. Paul Getty Trust issued a public reply, noting that Italy has no cultural claim on the statue.
Sarah E. Bond
Sarah E. Bond is associate professor of history at the University of Iowa. She blogs on antiquity and digital humanities, and is the author of Trade and Taboo: Disreputable Professions in the Roman Mediterranean.
Posted inArt
The Political Uses of a Figure of Male Beauty from Antiquity
One of the most celebrated statues from antiquity, the “Discobolus” remains a cautionary tale about the ways in which we speak about ideal bodies through the art we curate and display.
Posted inArt
British Exhibitions of Ethiopian Manuscripts Prompt Questions About Repatriation
Exhibitions at British cultural institutions have lately underscored the artistic output of Ethiopian scribes, and in the process, have also renewed questions around whether museums that have benefitted from acts of imperialism and colonialism should now return looted objects.
Posted inArt
Barbarians and Sculpture’s Color Barrier in Ancient Rome
Examining the clothing and also the color that Romans used to visualize those they defined as “barbarians” gives us a clue as to how Romans differentiated themselves from their foes
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Soon You May Be Able to Text with 2,000 Egyptian Hieroglyphs
Collaborations among Egyptologists and digital linguistics promise global visualizations of what was written on inscriptions, papyri, wall paintings, and other sources of Hieroglyphs. It may also allow for more popular knowledge of Egyptian Hieroglyphs and encourage its assimilation into popular language-learning apps like Duolingo.
Posted inArt
Can Art Museums Help Illuminate Early American Connections To Slavery?
Would you think differently about a work of art if you knew it depicted a slave owner? New labels installed at the Worcester Art Museum are drawing attention to the connections between art, slavery, and wealth in early America.
Posted inNews
After Uproar, University of Texas Decides Not to Relocate Its Fine Arts Library
Last year, it appeared as though the bulk of the holdings of the UT-Austin Fine Arts Library would be moved but, after a concerted campaign, a plan to keep them on campus was adopted.
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Before MAGA: Mithras, Phrygian Caps, and the Politics of Headwear
Despite the current political landscape of the US, we can look to antiquity to see that the red cap was actually once a symbol of citizenship and welcome to the foreigner.
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The Disappearance of Books Threatens to Erode Fine Arts Libraries
Two major public universities have recently moved to radically downsize or entirely relocate their fine arts libraries, which is in keeping with broader trends of libraries doing away with books.
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Finding the Roots of Graphic Novels in the Ancient World
Recent research on the use of graphic narratives in the ancient world has revealed their value to everyday people in the ancient Mediterranean — similar to modern audiences’ appreciation for such work.
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The Hidden Labor Behind the Luxurious Colors of Purple and Indigo
The history of Tyrian purple, indigo, and other dyes is a fascinating reminder of how we forget the people and the labor behind the products we use everyday.
Posted inArt
How Coloring Books Can Teach Us About Diversity in Ancient Times
If we consider coloring books as pedagogical tools rather than amusing diversions, we can use the fad as food for thought.