Louvre to lend Islamic art treasures to the Smithsonian
Upcoming exhibition at the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC, will feature 26 works from the Louvre, some of which have never been shown in the US
The Louvre museum plans to lend 26 Islamic art pieces to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C. for an exhibition titled "From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art" from September 26 to January 18, 2027. This exhibition will showcase unique objects, some of which have never been displayed in the United States, such as a bronze statue from Islamic Spain (10th-11th century) and a large Ottoman ceramic bowl from around 1480.
The works, spanning from the 7th to 19th centuries and originating from various regions, including Spain, India, and the Middle East, will explore their journeys to becoming recognized as "masterpieces" within Islamic cultural traditions. Exhibition co-curator Simon Rettig notes that the term "tuhfa" refers to objects of exceptional craftsmanship, often exchanged as symbols of diplomacy and personal connections between Islamic societies.
Some of these pieces have traveled extensively through history, including an 18th-century oil painting given to Napoleon by an Iranian ruler and a Mamluk metal vase that entered the Louvre after being acquired by Pope Urban VIII. The exhibition will also delve into the Louvre's own history, tracing how some of these remarkable artifacts have been passed through European hands before reaching French collections.
The collaboration between the Louvre and the Smithsonian underscores the significance of these artworks in promoting cultural exchange and understanding, particularly in light of America's 250th anniversary this year.
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