The Allure of the Sphinx

Many of the artists active during the 16th-18th centuries were captivated by Egyptian biblical heroines - Hagar, Potiphar's wife, Pharaoh's daughter, and Miriam, sister of Moses - to say nothing of the ageless figure of Cleopatra. They depicted these women as Europeans, but beginning in the early 19th century, after Napoleon's conquest of Egypt, artists became acquainted with the country's archaeological finds and with its inhabitants, and their portrayals evolved accordingly. The exhibition features Old Master paintings: prints by Rembrandt, Hogarth, and others; 19th century photographs; objets d'art; and a special display of rare hand-painted lithographs created by Scottish artist David Roberts following his 1838-39 trip to Egypt and the Near East.J. Dozsay, active in Egypt, second half of 19th century The Pyramids of Gizah, 1886 Albumen print Francois Perrier, French, also active Rome, 1590-1650 Statue of an the Nile God at the Capitolio, Rome Intaglio, 1638Nicola Grassi, Italian, 1682–1750 The Finding of Moses, undated Oil on canvas