The Burghers of Calais, First Maquette
Auguste Rodin, French, m. 1884, cast 1987
(bronze)
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh

In every community across the world, there are men and women who are willing to make a sacrifice. Let’s see a work of art that honors the courage of six leaders in France who were willing to give up their own lives in order to spare the lives of their fellow citizens. Continue reading →

Coffin of Amunred
Egyptian, Third Intermediate-Late Period, circa 715-525 BCE
(wood with gesso and paint)
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh

Imagine you’re an archeologist and have entered an ancient Egyptian mummy’s burial chamber. What would you find? Continue reading →

False Door of Ni-ankh-Snefru (Fefi)
Egyptian, Old Kingdom, circa 2321-2278 BCE
(white limestone with traces of paint)
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh

In ancient Egypt, powerful pharaohs (kings) ruled over a people for thousands of years. Let’s meet this ancient community and learn about their traditions and beliefs. Continue reading →

Egungun Costume
Yoruba artists, Ouidah, Benin, 20th century
(cloth, wood, beads, coins, cowrie shells, and sequins)
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh

Let’s learn about traditions from Western Africa and the people who make communities strong. Continue reading →

The Feast of Esther
Jan Lievens, Dutch, circa 1625-1626
(oil on canvas)
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh

Once, a long, long time ago there was a queen who saved her people. Continue reading →

Louis the XV
Studio of Hyacinthe Rigaud, French, circa 1715-1717
(oil on canvas)
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh

And then there was a boy who would be king. Continue reading →

Forward
Jacob Lawrence, American, 1967
(tempera on Masonite panel)
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh

Wars often divide communities. Let’s meet a brave American heroine who lived to see a devastating war that would divide the United States and pit citizen against citizen. Do you know what this war between the North and South is called? It is called the American Civil War (1861-1865). Continue reading →

Sir William Pepperrell and His Family
John Singleton Copley, American, 1778
(oil on canvas)
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh

The American War of Independence (1775-1783) was a war of bravery, a war of sorrow. Continue reading →