Louvre Mounts First Western-Organized Exhibition in Iran
Iran is set to host its inaugural exhibition curated by a Western museum, titled 'Le musée du Louvre à Téhéran,' which will launch on March 6, 2018, at the National Museum of Iran, coinciding with the museum's 80th anniversary. This showcase includes 50 pieces from the Louvre and Musée Delacroix, emphasizing Greek, Roman, and Persian art to illustrate cultural ties. This exhibition is a result of a 2016 agreement made during President Rouhani's trip to France with Iran's ICHHTO. Simultaneously, the Louvre-Lens is featuring 'The Empire of Roses: Masterpieces of 19th-Century Persian Art,' displaying 400 works from the Qajar dynasty (1786–1925), underscoring the cultural thaw in Franco-Iranian relations, which includes artifacts like the Code of Hammurabi at the Louvre.
Key facts
- First Western-organized exhibition in Iran: 'Le musée du Louvre à Téhéran'
- Opens March 6, 2018, at the National Museum of Iran
- Coincides with the museum's 80th anniversary
- Features 50 works from Louvre and Musée Delacroix
- Focuses on Greek, Roman, and Persian art to show universal human genius
- Result of 2016 agreement between Louvre and ICHHTO during Rouhani's France visit
- Concurrent exhibition at Louvre-Lens: 'The Empire of Roses' on Qajar dynasty
- Lens show includes 400 works, many shown for first time globally
- Exhibitions signal cultural détente between France and Iran
- Iranian artworks return to homeland temporarily
Entities
Institutions
- Louvre
- Musée Delacroix
- National Museum of Iran
- ICHHTO (Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization)
- Louvre-Lens
Locations
- Iran
- Tehran
- France
- Paris
- Lens
- Susa