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N: The European galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art are home to the Renaissance masters, the Museum's Carvaggios and Raphaels. But through the doors of the Renaissance wing, visitors to the Museum can now explore a lesser known phenomenon - the influence of Islamic art on Venetian artists from the 9th to the 18th century.
"Venice and the Islamic World' is an exhibition of European paintings, decorative objects, and textiles from the trading seaport of Venice. It's an eclectic collection. But every artist who is featured was inspired by Islamic art from Egypt, Syria, and Turkey.
Stefano Carboni is the Curator of Islamic Art at the Met. He says "Venice and the Islamic World" is the first major exhibition to showcase the artistic links between Venice and the Muslim world. Carboni spent more than four years collecting objects for the show…
Ax: A lot of traveling, a lot of being in Venice, which is not bad because I'm from Venice myself and it was a good opportunity. There are some loans that are quite exciting because they never left their institution before - they certainly never went to the United States before.
N: Venice and the Islamic World" features 200 objects from more than 60 public and private collections across the globe. The exhibition arrives at the Met following a successful run in Paris.
Carboni says Venetian artists were influenced by their leaders, who promoted diplomacy with European and Muslim powers. Diplomacy, after all, was central to the survival of Venice as a major trading port between East and West.
Ax: Venice always tried to maintain this kind of balance to the point that when they were too close to the Muslims then the Pope went so far as to excommunicate Venice…
N: Venitian leaders were quick to reaffirm their commitment to the Church even as it was supporting the Crusades against the Muslim world…
Ax: So they always had this role moving from one side to the other but always trying to be in the center of it…
N: It was out of this balancing act between cultures that the work on display took shape. One of the most striking pieces in the show is a 14th century painting of the Madonna and Child gilded in rich gold and red.
On closer inspection, however, you can see that this Renaissance Madonna is wearing Middle Eastern robes…
Museum Visitor Gordon Veiss of Australia says he noticed the cross-cultural influence in the art continues to this day…
Ax: I have carpets and bowls and glass-wear using the same motifs and designs that are in the exhibition…
N: Curator Stefano Carboni says the exhibition has a timely political message…
Ax: If we show an exhibition where we have a European Superpower that for many centuries managed to have a very good political and diplomatical and therefore artistic/cultural relationship with the Islamic World, of course it sends a message…
Gordon Veiss says this historical exhibition offers an alternative to today's embattled relations between Islam and the West…
Ax: There's always been a tremendous amount of exchange so our idea of a division between the two is artificial and I think this show reinforces how intertwined we are…
"Venice and the Islamic World" is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art through July before it returns to its roots in Venice later this year.
Bilal Qureshi, Columbia Radio News