Benin’s plaques were possible due to mutually beneficial trade with the Portuguese who brought brass to Africa.
Essay refreshed June 2022
In their religious practice, Muslims follow five fundamental tenets—learn about them here.
The Five Pillars of Islam
Duck! This slingshot may never fire, but Bernini fools us. We can feel David gathering strength to battle Goliath.
A-Level: Gian Lorenzo Bernini, David
Spotlight on Christ! Watching this dramatic scene unfold, we become a part of it, as if already inside the tomb.
A-Level: Caravaggio, Deposition (or Entombment)
This intricate ivory mask symbolizes the king’s dual nature as human and divine—and honors his mother.
Queen Mother Pendant Mask (Iyoba) (Edo peoples)
Benin’s brass-casting tradition combined West African smelting techniques with imported brass from Europe.
Benin and the Portuguese
Drought and rain govern when this work of art in Utah’s Great Salt Lake can be seen.
Robert Smithson, Spiral Jetty
This atmospheric space awakens the eye, heightens the senses, and prepares the path for enlightenment.
Ryōanji (Peaceful Dragon Temple)
The Benin bronzes created a stir, completely changing European understanding of African history.
The Kingdom of Benin
This plaque depicting the Oba (king) and his imperial retinue hung outside the palace, detailing dynastic history.
Benin plaque: Equestrian Oba and Attendants
On this marriage chest, domestic duties meet political concerns as Florence casts a wary eye on a changing East.
Cassone with the Conquest of Trebizond
This equestrian king is clearly powerful, but he rests on a nude female figure from whom his power is derived.
Olowe of Ise, veranda post (Yoruba peoples)
Described by Clark as a “non object,” Bicho can take many shapes, and is manipulated by the viewer.
Lygia Clark, Bicho
Featuring a frightened, nude fourteen-year-old, this painting shows the dark side of Gauguin’s Tahitian fixation.
Paul Gauguin, Spirit of the Dead Watching
With its stacked domes and six minarets, the Blue Mosque dominates Istanbul’s skyline—and the nearby Hagia Sophia.
The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii)
In their religious practice, Muslims follow five fundamental tenets—learn about them here.
The Five Pillars of Islam
Law is at the heart of modern civilization, and is often based on principles listed here nearly 4,000 years ago.
Law Code Stele of King Hammurabi
More than 4,000 years ago, Ur-Nanshe, the chief priest and king, displayed his piety and power by building a temple.
Perforated Relief of Ur-Nanshe
Instead of signatures, the Ancient Near East used carved beads to press unique impressions into clay documents.
Cylinder seals
Duck! This slingshot may never fire, but Bernini fools us. We can feel David gathering strength to battle Goliath.
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