ancient art

The antiquities collection at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art highlights the art of the ancient cultures surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and those of the Americas.

Art of the Americas

The Brooks’ collection of ancient-American objects is supplemented by a generous long-term loan, the Rushton Patterson Collection of Pre-Columbian Art. Together, they present a survey of the cultures of Central and South America that spans 13 centuries. Maya and Colima ceramics from Mesoamerica, as well as Chimu, Moche, and Chancay terra-cotta works from Peru, provide examples of the technical skill and rich heritage of these cultures. Other media include metalwork, such as a copper Chimu mask, and textiles from the Moche culture.

Ancient Mediterranean

The ancient Mediterranean collection on view includes ceramic, metal, and stone objects that primarily represent Greek, Roman, and Etruscan cultures ranging from the 14th century B.C.E. to the 11th century C.E. Among the museum’s notable works is a pair of Roman sarcophagus panels depicting The Good Shepherd and the Greco-Roman Torso of Pan, both sculpted in marble.

Pre-Columbian (Remojadas, Veracruz, Mexico)
Standing Female Figure, ca. 500-900
Painted terra-cotta
22 3/8" x 21" x 5" (56.8 cm x 53.3 cm x 12.7 cm)
Gift of the Director's Council 95.1.2