During Egypt's Late Period (about 700–332 BCE), the kingdom was invaded by Kushites, Assyrians, Persians, and Greeks, with only intermittent periods of native rule. Given the constant turmoil, it may seem miraculous that Egyptian art survived at all. Yet it flourished—artists and patrons looked to earlier monuments and styles to express continuity and assert cultural identity in the face of foreign rule. Join Egyptologist Lawrence Berman to learn how sculpted portraits from this era intentionally evoked the past while also pointing to the future, thus forging a visual tradition that adapted, innovated, and thrived.
Reviving the Past: Egyptian Portraits from a Period of Conquest
Talk
Head of an Official, Egypt, Dynasty 26, about 570-526 BCE. Quartzite. British Museum, London, EA37883. Image © The Trustees of the British Museum. All rights reserved
About
Lawrence M. Berman
Egyptologist
Lawrence M. Berman is John F. Cogan, Jr., and Mary L. Cornille Chair, Art of Ancient Egypt, Nubia, and the Near East at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Dr. Berman received his Ph.D. in Egyptology from Yale University. He has taught ancient Egyptian art and language at Yale, Case Western Reserve, and Harvard. Dr. Berman has traveled extensively in Egypt and northern Sudan. He has also participated in archaeological fieldwork, notably in the Valley of the Kings. Berman is a frequent lecturer and is author of numerous books and scholarly articles. His most recent book is Faces of Ancient Egypt: Portraits from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA Publications, 2022).
Know Before You Go
Duration
Approximately 1 hour
Planning your arrival
Please bring your tickets with you and have them open on your mobile device or printed. Your event ticket is also your entry to the Villa and will be checked upon arrival.
Your ticket will also be checked at the event entrance.
Note that during busy times of year and weekends, we recommend planning your visit to allow for at least 20 minutes to park, go through security, and make your way to the event.
Event Check-In
Check-in begins 60 minutes before program start time at the Auditorium.
Doors open 30 minutes before program start time.
Seating
Unless otherwise noted, all seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend arriving early to guarantee a seat. Unclaimed tickets may be released 15 minutes prior to the event.
Accessibility
Wheelchairs are available for free rental on a first-come, first-served basis in the Entry Pavilion.
Seating for wheelchair users and their party is available at the back of the auditorium, as well as at the front of the space. If you'd like to sit in the front, please let a Visitor Services associate know when you check in and they can escort you to these seats.
Assisted listening devices are available for this event. Please request one from our Visitor Services associates when you check in.
For more information on how we can support your visit to the Getty Villa, learn about accessibility at Getty.
Can’t make it?
Shortly following this event, a recording will be available on Getty's YouTube channel under "Talks and Conversations."
Related Exhibitions
Need help?
Contact us! 9 am–5 pm, 7 days a week
(310) 440-7300