Treasures from the MET -Islamic Art

"The Making of a Collection, Islamic Art at the Metropolitan" is a wonderful exhibition on view now through February 5th at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.   The exhibition comprises of a number of rooms all beautifully decorated with authentic furniture, wood carvings, mosaics, pottery and numerous illuminated manuscripts, from the Arab regions of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria etc.  The attention to detail in all these works is astonishing, and the overall impression is breath-taking.  For a moment you may forget you're in NY - momentarily I felt transported to the lands of the Scheherazade, of beauty and poetry, and I truly enjoyed this trip.  Here are photos from this show.  Also here is an article written in Vogue Magazine, giving further insight into this exhibit: http://www.vogue.com/magazine/article/navina-najat-haidar-the-magic-touch/#1

Jean-Leon Gerome, Bashi-Bazouk, 1868-1869

Charles Bargue, Bashi-Bazouk, 1875