Pergamon Museum lends antiquities to Metropolitan

The exhibition Pergamon and the Hellenistic Kingdoms of the Ancient World opens on this day in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The show, which wouldn’t have been possible if not for a loan of 73 unique pieces from the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, runs until July 17.

The Pergamon, situated in Berlin’s ‘Museum Island’, has been overdue for a renovation. The building itself, completed in 1930, was badly damaged during the second world war, as evidenced by the bullet marks which can still be found on its façade. Now, it will be off-limits for visitors until 2019. The closing of the Pergamon Museum presented the chance, however, to bring their collection of Hellenistic antiquities to new audiences.  

This exhibition is the most comprehensive show that the Met’s Greek and Roman department has undertaken. Curator Carlos A. Picón is well aware of the one-time nature of the show, the preparations for which began six years ago.  Together with his staff, Mr. Picón has visited close to 50 museums in 12 different countries in a quest for loans.

Following the recent alteration in the Metropolitan’s entry policy (changing the description of the visitor’s fee from “recommended” to “suggested”) it should be even easier now for anyone to appreciate this truly unique gathering of classical antiquities.  

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Photo: The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, NY (detail)