Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts

Coptic Art of Ancient Egypt

Period

May 26 – June 30, 2020

Hours

9:30–17:00 (Last entry 30 minutes before closing)

Closed

Mondays (Open on holidays and closed the following weekday.), June 16・17

Admission

Adults 300 (150) yen, University / High school students 200 (100) yen

* ( ) indicate prices for those in groups of 20 or more.

*Free for Junior high school students and under and those 65 years and older living in Osaka city. Please show proof of age (driver’s license, passport, etc.) when entering.

A Note to Our Visitors

Overview

Copt denotes a member of the Christian faith in Egypt who still live in various parts of the world as Coptic Christians today. “Coptic art” in terms of dyeing and weaving refers to the textile products made by the Copts around the 3rd-12th century. They expressed various motifs through tapestry weaving and used them for clothing such as tunics. Depending on the period, the designs range from angels, mythical figures, geometrical patterns to animals such as fish and lions. Due to the dry climate of Egypt, they still retain their vividness from more than a thousand years ago and were particularly popular during the 19th century among Western collectors. It is said that the popularity was sparked at the end of the 18th century when Napoleon Bonaparte who led the French Revolution made an expedition to Egypt.
In addition to the special exhibition “The Splendor of French Paintings”, this exhibition invites you to a unique and colorful world of patterns by showing you not only the dyed and woven items (Coptic textile fragments) but also the Coptic architectural decorations.

Pick up

Textile Fragment with Christian Crosses

Egypt, Byzantine or Early Islamic period,  6th – 7th century

Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts  

Frieze Fragment with Grapevine Scrolls Encircling Dionysus-like figure

Egypt, Byzantine period, 5th – 7th century       Limestone; carved

Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts

 

Exhibition Room1

Exhibition Room2

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