Harvard Art Museums hosts major survey of Celtic art in the United States
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 29
Harvard Art Museums hosts major survey of Celtic art in the United States
6 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 29
The exhibition, 'Celtic Art Across the Ages,' features nearly 300 objects spanning jewelry, armor, manuscripts, and textiles from c. 800 B.C. to A.D. 1200, on view in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Curated by Susanne Ebbinghaus, Penny Coombe, Laure Marest, and Matthew M.L. Rogan, the show explores Celtic abstraction, cultural interactions with Rome, and the evolution of motifs across centuries.
As the first comprehensive U.S. survey of Celtic art, the exhibition challenges past prejudices, highlights the art's influence on later movements, and invites visitors to engage with a dynamic, enduring visual tradition.
How does this exhibition rewrite the history of so-called 'barbarian' art?
What ancient secrets allowed Celtic artisans to create designs that still look modern?
How did ancient Celtic designs inspire the famous Art Nouveau movement centuries later?
Is 'Celtic art' a real ancient identity or a modern label for diverse cultures?
Why did Celtic coin makers transform realistic portraits into wild abstract art?
What did the mythical beasts and swirling patterns in Celtic art actually symbolize?