Art from the ancient Mediterranean represents a small but significant part of Dumbarton Oaks’ collections. When viewed alongside Byzantine art, these works offer an opportunity to consider the continuities and changes in artistic production from the classical to the medieval period.
Ancient Art at Dumbarton Oaks comprises a selection of ancient and late antique artworks in the Byzantine Collection, the majority acquired from prominent antique dealers such as Joseph Brummer. The documentation of the collection’s provenance provides a look into the world of early twentieth-century collecting.
The reinstallation and online exhibition have been coordinated by Elizabeth Dospel Williams, Associate Curator, Byzantine Collection, and Kelsey Eldridge, Tyler Fellow (2019–2021), Department of History of Art and Architecture, Harvard University.
