Palace Sculptures of Abomey

Palace Sculptures of Abomey
Title Palace Sculptures of Abomey PDF eBook
Author Francesca Piqué
Publisher Getty Publications
Pages 124
Release 2000-03-16
Genre Art
ISBN 0892365692

Download Palace Sculptures of Abomey Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The Republic of Benin in West Africa is home to more than forty ethnic groups, the largest of which is the Fon. In the early seventeenth century, the Fon established a society ruled by a dynasty of kings, who over the years forged the powerful kingdom of Dahomey. In their capital city of Abomey, they built a remarkable complex of palaces that became the center of the kingdom's political, social, and religious life. The palace walls were decorated with colorful low-relief sculptures, or bas-reliefs, which recount legends and battles and glorify the history of the dynasty's reign. Over the centuries, these visual stories have represented and perpetuated the history and myths of the Fon people. The Palace Sculptures of Abomey combines lavish color photographs of the bas-reliefs with a lively history of the Dahomey kingdom, complemented by period drawings, rare historical photographs, and colorful textile art. The book provides a vivid portrait of these exceptional narrative sculptures and the equally remarkable people who crafted them. Also included are a reading of the stories on the walls and details of the four-year collaboration between the Benin Ministry of Culture and Communications and the Getty Conservation Institute to conserve the bas-reliefs of Abomey. Final chapters describe the Historic Museum of Abomey, now housed in the palace complex, and discuss the continuing popularity of bas-reliefs in contemporary West African art.

Palace Sculptures of Abomey

Palace Sculptures of Abomey
Title Palace Sculptures of Abomey PDF eBook
Author
Publisher
Pages
Release 2013
Genre
ISBN

Download Palace Sculptures of Abomey Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Wall Sculptures of Abomey

Wall Sculptures of Abomey
Title Wall Sculptures of Abomey PDF eBook
Author Francesca Piqué
Publisher
Pages 116
Release 1999
Genre Art, Fon
ISBN 9780500281802

Download Wall Sculptures of Abomey Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The Republic of Benin in West Africa is home to more than 40 ethnic groups, the largest of which is the Fon. During the early 17th century, the Fon established a society ruled by a dynasty of kings, who over the years forged the powerful kingdom of Dahomey. In their capital city of Abomey, the rulers built a remarkable complex of palaces which became the centre of the kingdom's political, social and religious life. The palace walls were decorated with colourful low-relief sculptures, or bas-reliefs, recounting legends and battles and glorifying the dynasty's region. In a society with no written language, these visual stories have perpetuated the history and myths of the Fon people.

Dahomey’s Royal Architecture

Dahomey’s Royal Architecture
Title Dahomey’s Royal Architecture PDF eBook
Author Lynne Ellsworth Larsen
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Pages 162
Release 2023-06-23
Genre Architecture
ISBN 1000899683

Download Dahomey’s Royal Architecture Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Dahomey’s Royal Architecture examines the West African kingdom of Dahomey, located in present-day Republic of Benin. The book explores the Royal Palace of Dahomey’s relationship to the religious, cultural, and national identity of the pre-colonial Kingdom of Dahomey (c. 1625–1892), colonial Dahomey (1892–1960) and post-colonial Benin (1960–present). The Royal Palace of Dahomey covers more than 108 acres and was surrounded by a wall over two miles long. When the French colonial army arrived in Abomey in 1892, the ruling king set fire to the palace to keep it from falling into enemy hands. Though much of the palace structure was subsequently left to ruin, a portion of it was restored from which the French ruled for a short period. In 1945, the colonial administration transformed part of the palace into a museum, and in 1985 the entire palace was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list. This book documents the palace’s physical transformations in relation to its changing purposes and explores how the space maintained religious significance despite change. The palace’s construction, destruction, and restorations demonstrate how architecture can be manipulated and transformed according to the agendas of governments or according to the religious and cultural needs of a populace. The palace functions as a historic record by discussing aspects of documentation, revision, language, and interpretation. Covering almost four centuries of Dahomey’s history, this book will be of interest to researchers and students of African art and architecture, religious studies, west African history, and post-colonial studies.

Herculaneum and the House of the Bicentenary

Herculaneum and the House of the Bicentenary
Title Herculaneum and the House of the Bicentenary PDF eBook
Author Sarah Court
Publisher Getty Publications
Pages 178
Release 2020-02-11
Genre History
ISBN 1606066285

Download Herculaneum and the House of the Bicentenary Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

This volume provides a striking account of the life, destruction, rediscovery, and cultural significance of the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum and one of its grandest residences—the House of the Bicentenary. This volume vividly recounts, for general readers, the Roman town of Herculaneum, destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE and uniquely preserved for nearly two thousand years. Initial chapters offer an engaging historical overview of the town during antiquity, including the riveting story of its rediscovery in the eighteenth century, excavation in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and broad cultural significance in modern times. Subsequent chapters offer an interpretive tour of the ancient town, then focus on one of Herculaneum’s grandest and most beautifully decorated private residences, known as the House of the Bicentenary. Located on the town’s main street, it has a range of features—original rooms, magnificent wall paintings and mosaics, and remarkable documents—that illuminate daily life in the ancient world. Final chapters bring the story up to date, including recent discoveries about the site and its famous papyrus manuscripts, as well as ongoing conservation initiatives.

Wall to Wall

Wall to Wall
Title Wall to Wall PDF eBook
Author Mary Ann Fraser
Publisher Getty Publications
Pages 80
Release 2024-05-07
Genre Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN 1606068857

Download Wall to Wall Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

An exciting tour of remarkable wall art around the globe, from prehistoric caves to futuristic wonders. People have been drawing on walls since ancient times. They do it to create beauty, to tell a story, to make a statement, or just to say, “I was here.” You can find wall art in a remote cave in Patagonia and a desert castle in Jordan, a kingly palace in the Republic of Benin and the National Palace of Mexico, a miles-long flood channel in Los Angeles and a sky-high rooftop in Norway. In Wall to Wall, award-winning author, illustrator, and muralist Mary Ann Fraser takes readers on a worldwide journey through time, stopping to see amazing mural art along the way. Stunning color illustrations and fascinating photographs illuminate both famous and little-known examples, and lighthearted text tells engaging stories about the people who inspired or created them. A glossary, selected bibliography, and section about the preservation of murals conclude the book. No reader will ever again pass by a mural—whether in a historic building, a museum, or out on the street—without stopping to take a closer look. Ages ten to fourteen

G.K. Hall Interdisciplinary Bibliographic Guide to Black Studies

G.K. Hall Interdisciplinary Bibliographic Guide to Black Studies
Title G.K. Hall Interdisciplinary Bibliographic Guide to Black Studies PDF eBook
Author Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Publisher
Pages 724
Release 2000
Genre African Americans
ISBN

Download G.K. Hall Interdisciplinary Bibliographic Guide to Black Studies Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle