The thrill of discovery, chronicled as a turning-point in the appreciation of ancient art and societies, connects the exhibition “Wonderful Things: The Harry Burton Photographs and the Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun” at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University to “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center. On view at the Carlos Museum from November 15, 2008 to May 25, 2009, “Wonderful Things” brings to Atlanta 50 photographs showcasing the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. Catherine Fox from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution calls the exhibition “fascinating,” saying that patrons will “likely find that Burton’s photographs are, like the treasures they picture, wonderful things.”
Dr. Peter Lacovara, Senior Curator of Ancient Egyptian, Nubian, and Near Eastern Art, said, “The Atlanta community will get a glimpse into what it took to bring Tutankhamun’s treasures to the world, the atmosphere in which they were discovered, and the opening they provided archaeologists in their search to understand this ancient civilization.” Burton’s photography is made more remarkable by his use of primitive equipment under difficult conditions. The exhibit will also show his experimentation with motion pictures and color photography as well as the ways his photographs popularized the discovery of the tomb.
On view will also be objects that highlight Howard Carter’s career and his search for the tomb, including drinking vessels of Tutankhamun, on loan from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, that led to the discovery and a rare sculpture of the boy king himself. Harry Burton’s iconic photographs at the Carlos Museum includes one of Tutankhamun’s mummy mask and another depicting Anubis, god of mummification and the journey into the afterlife, protecting Tutankhamun's canopic shrine containing his internal organs. Also included is a painting by Howard Carter lent by London collector, Rupert Wace, that highlights Carter’s talent as an artist and his love of Egyptian art.
The photographs in the exhibition document the Valley of the Kings, the initial discovery of the tomb, the dramatic moment when the excavators first glimpsed the dazzling array of artifacts, the entry to the burial chamber, the series of shrines and coffins that protected the king, and the king's mummy, wreathed in floral collars and bedecked with gold jewelry. The discovery of these treasures could have easily escaped archeologists. Tutankhamun’s tomb was small and of “non-royal proportions” – it was later covered by debris from the construction of the Tomb of Ramesses VI. On November 4, 1922, archaeologist, Howard Carter, discovered the sealed doorway, stamped with the name of Tutankhamun and quickly cabled his benefactor, Lord Carnarvon. Two weeks later, standing in front of his benefactor, as he opened the door to the tomb, Carter described the moment, when the “details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist” with Lord Carnarvon inquiring anxiously, “What do you see?” Carter said, “I see wonderful things.”
The Carlos Museum has a slate of educational events and collaborative initiatives planned for both the “Tutankhamun” exhibition and “Wonderful Things.” Don't miss Dr. Zahi Hawass' much-awaited lecture at the Atlanta Civic Center on Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 7 p.m.
In conjunction with “Wonderful Things” visitors will be able to attend informational events including a lecture on January 29, 2009, by Catharine Roehrig, Curator of Egyptian Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Family events include a workshop by Atlanta photographer, Angela West, who will teach children to use a large format camera and paper negatives to make their own photographs. For more information, visit carlos.emory.edu/programs-and-partners.
Member Discounts for Dr. Zahi Hawass Lecture:
Thursday,
March 19
7 pm
Dr. Zahi Hawass in Atlanta
Tickets will be $12 at the door.
