Voyage across Atlantic: Masterpieces of Islamic Art from Louvre at Smithsonian
- Last updated: August 8, 2026 | 09:59
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
An exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, USA, will open on September 26. On view till January 18, 2027, it features artworks from the seventh to 19th centuries created in Islamic regions, spanning modern-day Spain to India. On view for the first time in the US — and at its only stop — From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art presents a selection of 26 artworks from the Musée du Louvre that represent the depth, technical excellence and global reach of the arts of the Islamic world.
The exhibition tells the stories of the objects’ long and often complex journeys from their places of origin to the Louvre, as they gained recognition as masterpieces. From the Louvre invites visitors to consider how artworks become masterpieces over time, highlighting not only artistic mastery, but also histories of use and exchange. Frequently gifted to secure and strengthen alliances, the works were invested with new power and meaning as they moved from the possession of sultans, princes and nobles, to the hands of artists, archaeologists and collectors.
“Desired for their spectacular artistry and distinct craftsmanship, these objects of the Islamic world were enjoyed by a select few until they entered the Louvre,” said Chase F. Robinson, director of the National Museum of Asian Art. “Now, these once-exclusive objects are accessible to all as masterpieces. Through this exhibition, we examine how masterpieces are shaped not only by their makers, but also by the public that celebrates them.” Galleries will display paintings, metalwork, jade, ceramics, glass and architectural elements that represent different artistic traditions from the Islamic world. The works acquired new significance over centuries, as they moved across borders and changed ownership.
Examples include the Baptistery of Saint Louis, a brass basin inlaid with silver and gold from 14th-century Syria and Egypt that was originally intended for secular use, such as ceremonial hand washing, later transforming into a religious relic when used to baptise King Louis XIII in 1606; an 18th-century oil painting of the Persian ruler Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (1787–1834), once displayed in one of the shah’s residences in Iran and was presented to French emperor Napoleon as a diplomatic gift; two jewel-embedded ivory pen cases were thought to be commissioned by the 17th-century Mughal emperor Jahangir and gifted to Persian ruler Shah Abbas I and his grand vizier. The pen cases, bearing their names, were acquired by Louis Cartier in 1912 and inspired some of his jewellery creations; and designs on the Lion of Monzón, symbolising blessings and good fortune on the owner, which inspired art trends throughout Europe. The bronze statue was created in 10th to 11th century Islamic Spain and was likely used as a fountain spout, before captivating artists and art critics.
The exhibition also highlights long-standing ties between the Louvre and the National Museum of Asian Art. In the early 20th century, museum founder Charles Lang Freer developed an artist and collector network, which included Louvre curator Gaston Migeon and French collector and art historian Raymond Koechlin, who frequently corresponded with Freer. An object from Koechlin’s collection — a blue and turquoise plate with a peacock from the 16th-century Ottoman Empire — is now at the Louvre and included in the exhibition. Masterpieces is co-curated by Souraya Noujaim, director of the Islamic art department at the Musée du Louvre, and Simon Rettig, associate curator for the arts of the Islamic world at the National Museum of Asian Art.
“For decades, the Musée du Louvre has acquired works that demonstrate the incredible diversity of Islamic art,” Noujaim said. “Through this collaboration with the National Museum of Asian Art, we continue the spirit of cultural exchange and cross-cultural conversations that these masterpieces have inspired for centuries.” “Works of art rarely begin their lives as masterpieces,” Rettig said. “Some become so only over time. As they continue to dazzle and mesmerise the public, we also share the little-known story of their captivating journeys in this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition.”
Support for the exhibition is provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Mary and Farhad Ebrahimi, and Ronald M. Costell, M.D. and the Estate of Marsha E. Swiss. Additional support is provided by the Ebrahimi Family Endowment for Persian, Arab, and Turkish Art. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art opened in 1923 as the United States’ first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the country. It now stewards one of the world’s most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present.
The museum serves as a global and national resource for understanding the arts and cultures of Asia and their interaction with America, past and present. Open to all since 1793, the Musée du Louvre was the first museum to open to the general public in France. Born of the French Revolution and heir to the great royal collections, this former palace of the kings of France has always lived and evolved alongside national — and global - history. Today, the Louvre is one of the leading players on the international museum scene, with 30,000 works of art displayed across 70,000 square meters, including masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Seated Scribe and the Venus de Milo. It holds collections that tell a history of the world that has always been built on exchanges and connections, spanning from antiquity to the 19th century, from Asia to the Americas.