Ibis Eating a Lizard (100 BCE – 100 CE)
This piece, dating to around 100 BC to AD 100, blends exotic Egyptian symbolism with Roman artistic flair, offering a glimpse into the cultural exchanges of the ancient world.
Europe
Fata Morgana (c. 1572 CE)
This work masterfully captures the illusion of soft flesh and fluid movement in unyielding stone, inviting viewers to circle it and appreciate its dynamic form from every perspective.
The Age of Bronze (1875–76 CE)
This enigmatic work depicts a nude male figure in a moment of awakening, with one arm raised toward his head and the other slightly extended, evoking a sense of emerging consciousness and inner transformation.
Apollo and Daphne (c. 1700 CE)
Soldani captures the dramatic instant when the nymph Daphne transforms into a laurel tree to escape the pursuing god Apollo, offering viewers an immediate insight into Baroque art's obsession with movement, metamorphosis, and fleeting moments.
Wild Boar Vessel (700–500 BCE)
The vessel is traditionally dated to between 700 and 500 BC and attributed to the Etruscan culture of ancient Italy. However, recent scientific analyses have complicated this attribution.
Fallen Caryatid Carrying Her Stone (1881 CE)
This work depicts a female figure, known as a caryatid—a term from classical Greek architecture referring to a sculpted woman serving as a supporting column—collapsed under the immense weight of a stone she bears on her shoulder.
Horn of Saint Blaise (1100–1200 CE)
This exquisite piece, dating back to the 12th century, showcases intricate carvings that blend cultural influences from across the Mediterranean, inviting us to explore a world of historical fusion where Arab craftsmanship met Christian relic veneration.
Portable Altar of Countess Gertrude (c. 1045 CE)
The altar was commissioned by Countess Gertrude of Brunswick, a member of the powerful Guelph dynasty, one of the most influential noble families in the medieval Holy Roman Empire.
Arm Reliquary of the Apostles (c. 1190 CE)
Shaped like a clothed human forearm with an outstretched right hand in a gesture of blessing, this reliquary was designed to house a sacred relic—in this case, a portion of an unidentified saint’s arm bone.
Enthroned Virgin with Christ Child (c. 1400CE)
Crafted in limestone with bright polychromy (multiple colors) and gilding, this work blends tenderness with deep theological meaning, making it a poignant example of late medieval devotional art.
Why Born Enslaved! (1867 CE)
Rather than depicting submission, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux presents a figure who resists her fate through posture and expression. The work immediately provokes emotional and moral reflection, compelling viewers to confront the violence of slavery.
Terpsichore Lyran (1816 CE)
This life-size figure embodies serene grace and ideal beauty, portraying Terpsichore—one of the nine Muses in Greek mythology—as the inspiring force behind lyric poetry.