Ideals of character and beauty, and conceptions of self and society,
were in flux during Late Antiquity, a period of extensive dramatic
cultural upheaval for the Roman world, as the extraordinary growth
of Christianity eclipsed paganism. Textiles from Late Antiquity document
transformations of cultural traditions and societal values at
the most intimate level of the individual body and the home. These
textile artifacts are fragile, preserved only in arid conditions, often in
fragments, and only rarely intact.
The textiles selected for the exhibition Designing Identity at
New York University’s Institute for the Study of the Ancient World
present an aesthetic of vibrant colors, fine materials, technical
virtuosity of professional production, and variations on designs
that display personal identity in the clothing of men, women, and
children, as well as hopes for prosperity and protection in the textile
furnishings of households. Prized for their artistry since the earliest
discoveries beginning at the turn of the nineteenth century, such
textiles were eagerly collected by designers, artists, scholars, museums,
and captains of industry. This exhibition catalogue explores the
parallel histories of ancient textile production and consumption, and
the modern business of collecting Late Antique textiles.
Contributors include Jennifer Ball, Edward Bleiberg, Kathrin Colburn,
Helen Evans, Christine Kondoleon, Brandie Ratliff, Thelma Thomas,
and Elizabeth Williams.
Exhibition schedule:
