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Medieval Mediterranean

Centre Street, Third Floor

Arts of the Medieval Mediterranean brings together works from the Walters’ medieval European and Islamic collections to illuminate the diversity and historic interconnectivity of cultures and artistic traditions around the Mediterranean Sea during the medieval period. Using new object groupings to illustrate the exchanges that occurred, the installation focuses on the interactions between cultures and religions, such as between Christian and Islamic Spain, North Africa and Sicily, and within the Levant during the Crusader period.

Located on Level 3 of the Centre Street building, the display is divided between two galleries: Arts of the Medieval Mediterranean, a new permanent installation, and The People of the Book: Medieval Mediterranean Manuscripts, a temporary installation of manuscripts, textiles, and light-sensitive materials in the adjoining space.

Featuring approximately 100 works, including 20 manuscripts and textiles and 68 works permanently installed, the galleries include standout objects such as two gilt and enameled glass beakers with Christian scenes and Arabic inscriptions, as well as the Ben Ezra Torah Ark door, part of the sacred architecture of a Jewish synagogue in Islamic Cairo, and The Conradin Bible illuminated by a southern Italian artist working in a Byzantine style. The works are placed to draw connections across cultures and collections.

Arts of the Medieval Mediterranean focuses on themes of architecture and the environment, the shared tradition of aquamanilia (a type of ewer or jug often in the form of animals or people), commerce and exchange, ivories, inscriptions and pseudo-script, pilgrimage and ritual, lusterware across continents and centuries, and light and illumination.

The People of the Book draws upon the Walters’ world-renowned collection of rare books and manuscripts, which spans more than 1,000 years and contains over 900 manuscripts, 1,300 of the earliest printed books, and 2,000 rare later editions from across the globe; it also includes textiles from both Coptic Christian and Muslim communities in medieval Egypt.

Detail image for Medieval Mediterranean

Curators: Christine Sciacca, Curator of European Art, 300-1400 CE; Ashley Dimmig, Guest Curator and former Wieler-Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow in Islamic Art

This installation is generously funded by Supporters of the Walters Art Museum. To support future projects and the ongoing rotation of objects on display at the Walters, please consider making a gift.

Image:
Beakers, Syria, ca. 1260. by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.

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Image for pilgrim's badge

pilgrim's badge

Italian Artist
13th-14th century
55.70
On view
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Image for pilgrim's badge

pilgrim's badge

Italian Artist
13th-14th century
55.69
On view
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Image for Deesis

Deesis

Venetian Artist
13th century (Medieval)
47.4
On view
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Image for Box

Box

Islamic Artist
13th century (Medieval)
54.517
On view
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Image for Façade Relief with Two Peacocks

Façade Relief with Two Peacocks

Venetian Artist
13th century (Medieval)
27.523
On view
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Image for Bowl with Pigeons and Inscription

Bowl with Pigeons and Inscription

Iranian Artist
13th century (Medieval)
48.2041
On view
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Image for Incense Burner

Incense Burner

Syrian Artist
13th century (Medieval)
54.451
On view
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Image for Cross Fragment of the Mourning Virgin

Cross Fragment of the Mourning Virgin

French Artist
1210-1220 (Medieval)
44.22
On view
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Image for Ewer

Ewer

644 AH/AD 1246-1247 (Crusader)
54.456
On view
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Image for Beaker

Beaker

Syrian Artist
ca. 1260 (Crusader)
47.18
On view
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Image for Candlestick Base

Candlestick Base

Egyptian Artist
ca. 1290 (Mamluk; Bahri)
54.459
On view
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Image for Aquamanile in the Form of a Lion

Aquamanile in the Form of a Lion

German (?) Artist
late 13th or early 14th century (Late Medieval)
53.25
On view
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Image for Chess Rook

Chess Rook

Scandinavian Artist
14th century (Medieval)
71.1157
On view
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Image for Font

Font

Spanish Artist
14th-15th century
48.1067
On view
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Image for Amulet Case with Arabic Writing

Amulet Case with Arabic Writing

Islamic Artist
14th-15th century
44.151
On view
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Image for Pricket Candlestick

Pricket Candlestick

French Artist
early 14th century (Medieval)
44.596
On view
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Image for Virgin and Child with Saints Augustine, Nicholas (?), Catherine (?), Lucy, and Angels

Virgin and Child with Saints Augustine, Nicholas (?), Catherine (?), Lucy, and Angels

ca. 1340-1345 (Medieval)
37.731
On view
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Image for Spice Cellar in the Shape of a Ship

Spice Cellar in the Shape of a Ship

German (?) Artist
ca. 1400
54.2501
On view
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Image for Ceiling Tile with a Dog

Ceiling Tile with a Dog

Spanish Artist
1396-1410 (Late Medieval)
48.2106.9
On view
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Image for Ceiling Tile (socarrat) with a Boar

Ceiling Tile (socarrat) with a Boar

Spanish Artist
1396-1410 (Late Medieval)
48.2106.1
On view
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Image for Basin

Basin

Spanish Artist
early-mid 15th century (late Medieval)
48.1013
On view
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Image for Plate with a Castle

Plate with a Castle

Spanish Artist
ca. 1450-1465 (late Medieval)
48.1300
On view
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Image for Aquamanile in the Form of a Hybrid Creature

Aquamanile in the Form of a Hybrid Creature

German Artist
1450-1500 (Late Medieval)
54.62
On view
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Image for Ceiling Tile (socarrat) with Leaping Fish

Ceiling Tile (socarrat) with Leaping Fish

Spanish Artist
1475-1500 (Renaissance)
48.2106.2
On view
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Image for Ceiling tile (socarrat) with heraldic lion with shield

Ceiling tile (socarrat) with heraldic lion with shield

Spanish Artist
1475-1500 (Renaissance)
48.2106.8
On view
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Image for Ceiling tile (socarrat) with a hare

Ceiling tile (socarrat) with a hare

Spanish Artist
1475-1500 (Renaissance)
48.2106.3
On view
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Image for Vase with Leaf Pattern

Vase with Leaf Pattern

Spanish Artist
16th century (late Medieval)
48.1145
On view
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Image for floral

floral

Islamic Artist
17th century
48.1263
On view
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Image for Storage Jar

Storage Jar

ca. 1625-1700
48.1184
On view
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