Enfilade

I saw the exhibition last weekend at the DIA: so many amazing objects, especially from the Middle Ages, but also plenty of 18th-century treats (with a stunning catalogue). –CH

The Art of Dining: Food Culture in the Islamic World
LACMA, Los Angeles, 17 December 2023 — 4 August 2024
Detroit Institute of Arts, 22 September 2024 — 5 January 2025

Unknown painter (French School), Enjoying Coffee, Turkey, first half of the 18th century (Istanbul: Pera Museum).

The Art of Dining brings together more than 200 works from the Middle East, Egypt, Central and South Asia, and beyond to explore connections between art and cuisine from ancient times to the present day. Paintings of elaborate feasts, sumptuous vessels for food and drink, and historical cookbooks show how culinary cultures have thrived in the Islamic world for centuries. Highlighting the relationship of these works to preparing, serving, and enjoying food, the exhibition engages multiple senses and invites us to appreciate the pleasures of sharing a meal.

Originally organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the exhibition includes works from 30 public and private collections from across the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, and 16 from the DIA’s collection.

Linda Komaroff, ed., Dining with the Sultan: The Fine Art of Feasting (DelMonico Books, 2023), 375 pages, ISBN: ‎978-1636810881, $85.