Art Study Center Seminar: Mary, Maryam, Mother: The Virgin Mary in Indian and Persian Art

When:
Friday, Mar 07, 2025 11:00a -
12:00p

Where:
Harvard Art Museums
32 Quincy Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

EventScheduled OfflineEventAttendanceMode

Admission:
FREE

Hosted by:
...
harvardartmuseums Harvard Art Museums

Categories:
Accessible Spots, Art, History, University

Event website:
https://bit.ly/41lJaBM

In anticipation of International Women’s Day on March 8, curatorial fellow Janet O’Brien will examine how the image of the Virgin Mary, already the most represented woman in western painting, grew in popularity as a subject in Mughal India and Safavid Iran from the late 16th century onward.


Mary is venerated by Muslims as well as Christians. In the Qurʾan, Maryam, mother of Prophet Isa (Jesus), is chosen “over all women of the world.” Mughal and Safavid artists enthusiastically embraced Marian iconography through their engagement with European paintings and prints, but their adaptations were created to carry meaning for local audiences.


Using exquisite examples from our collections, this seminar will explore the motivations behind the rise of Marian imagery in India and Iran. Representations of Mary were utilized at the Mughal court to project the prominence of royal mothers and female lineage as well as its “universal” policy for a religiously diverse empire. In Safavid Iran, these images were patronized by wealthy Armenian merchants and the Christian enclave. The discussion will extend to the evolution in the images’ style and meaning into the 19th century and beyond.


Led by:

Janet O’Brien, Calderwood Curatorial Fellow in South Asian and Islamic Art, Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art


Free admission, but registration is required. You can register by clicking on the event on this form, beginning on Tuesday, February 25.


Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the program to allow sufficient time to sign in at the Art Study Center reception desk (Level 4), and be prepared to present a photo ID. All coats and bags must be placed in a locker prior to entering the study room, with lockers also available on Level 4. Children age 14 and older are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

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03/07/2025 11:00:00 03/07/2025 12:00:00 America/New_York Art Study Center Seminar: Mary, Maryam, Mother: The Virgin Mary in Indian and Persian Art <p>In anticipation of International Women’s Day on March 8, curatorial fellow Janet O’Brien will examine how the image of the Virgin Mary, already the most represented woman in western painting, gr...

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