Africa and Byzantium

Africa and Byzantium explores the artistic and cultural intersections of the African continent and the Byzantine world, featuring over 170 masterworks in various media and techniques. It reconsiders Africa's contributions to the development of the premodern world and offers a more complete history of the continent as a vibrant, multiethnic society.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 24 October 2023
Publisher: Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, is proud to present Africa and Byzantium, a groundbreaking exhibition that explores the artistic and cultural intersections of the African continent and the Byzantine world. Spanning over 1,000 years, this exhibition brings together more than 170 masterworks in a range of media and techniques, from mosaic, sculpture, pottery, and metalwork to luxury objects, panel paintings, and religious manuscripts.

The exhibition sheds new light on the profound artistic contributions of Nubia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and other powerful African kingdoms whose pivotal interactions with Byzantium had an indelible impact on the medieval Mediterranean world. It reconsiders the continents contributions to the development of the premodern world and offers a more complete history of Africa as a vibrant, multiethnic society of diverse languages and faiths that played a crucial role in the artistic, economic, and cultural life of Byzantium and beyond.

The exhibition is organized into four sections, each exploring a different aspect of the artistic and cultural exchange between Africa and Byzantium. The first section, "Trade and Exchange," explores the economic and commercial relationships that bound the two regions. It showcases a range of objects, including luxury goods, such as textiles, jewelry, and ceramics, as well as trade tools and equipment. The second section, "Artistic Influences," examines the ways in which African artists were influenced by Byzantine art and architecture. It features works that demonstrate the influence of Byzantine iconography, sculpture, and painting on African art, as well as works that reflect the influence of African art on Byzantine art. The third section, "Cultural Intersections," explores the ways in which African and Byzantine cultures intersected and influenced each other. It features works that demonstrate the shared religious beliefs, customs, and traditions of the two regions, as well as works that reflect the cultural exchange between Africa and Byzantium. The fourth section, "Contemporary Perspectives," presents works that explore the ongoing legacy of the African and Byzantine artistic exchange. It features contemporary artists who draw inspiration from the rich history of the two regions, as well as works that address the contemporary challenges and opportunities that arise from the continued interaction between Africa and Byzantium.

The exhibition is accompanied by a comprehensive catalog that features essays by leading scholars in the field, as well as new photography of works rarely or never before seen in public. The catalog provides a deeper understanding of the artistic and cultural exchange between Africa and Byzantium, and its impact on the development of the premodern world.

Africa and Byzantium is a groundbreaking exhibition that will captivate visitors with its stunning artworks, rich history, and profound insights into the complex and fascinating relationship between Africa and Byzantium. It is a must-see for anyone interested in art, history, and the cultural exchange between different regions of the world.

Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press

Exhibition Schedule:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

(November 19, 2023–March 3, 2024)

The Cleveland Museum of Art

(April 14–July 21, 2024)

Weight: 2024g
Dimension: 274 x 526 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781588397713