Mediterranean Vistas of Sacred Places at Fred Jones Museum

THE OKLAHOMAN
February 27, 2011

Temple Interior, Egypt, n.d. by Joseph Lindon Smith (U.S., 1863-1950)
Watercolor, 22 1/2 x 12 in.

OKLAHOMA -- Nineteenth-century American art inspired by the landscapes and cultures found in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea is the focus of a new exhibition at the University of Oklahoma's Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. “In the late 19th century, American artists showed increasing interest in points abroad, including Spain, the Holy Land, Egypt and much of northern Africa,” curator Mark White said. 'Mediterranea' provides contemporary viewers with an exploration of the ways American artists understood, interpreted and portrayed Mediterranean culture.” Those influences included the Mediterranean's distinctive flora, the legacy of its Greco-Roman past and religions ranging from Christianity to Islam. The results often focused on the visual signs of cross-sea warfare, trade and religious influence. Religious faith prompted some Americans to visit the Holy Land and other sites important to their beliefs. [link]