When In Rome

Great art is always worth the trip — whether the journey covers thousands of miles, or just a few. This year, a collaborative effort between the American Federation of Arts (AFA) and the Musée du Louvre in Paris will make things a little easier by bringing to American audiences the best that one of the Europe’s most renowned museums has to offer. The traveling exhibition Roman Art from the Louvre treats visitors to magnificent works dating back to the days of the Roman Empire.

The exhibit features 184 pieces chosen to represent the diversity of Roman art, ranging from sculptures and sarcophagi to marble busts and mosaics. Carefully selected by Louvre curators Daniel Roger and Cécile Giroire, the masterworks are arranged thematically in order to present objects integral to Roman public and private life. Themes such as fashion, family, war, and religion help modern audiences connect with the ancient Romans.

“Many pieces in the exhibition speak not only to the mind but also to the heart,” says Roger. The personal nature of many of the works reflects this sentiment, from the expressive portrait of an unknown Roman to the colossal reliefs originally intended to adorn arches or public buildings. Bringing these pieces to the United States presents a challenge, but Giroire points out the trend emerging among museums and their investors. “There’s a new mentality that thinks that knowledge and beauty are as important as food and water,” he says.

Roman Art from the Louvre is on display at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art from June 19 through October 12. The museum is located at 415 Couch Drive, Oklahoma City, 405.236.3100; okcmoa.com