Ashmolean Museum - "Unmissable" Imagining the Divine exhibition Now Open

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EXHIBITION NOW OPEN Imagining the Divine Art and the Rise of World Religions "Unmissable… a fascinating journey through the art of religions from India to Ireland" – Mary Beard Why do we think of Jesus Christ with a beard? Or Buddha as cross-legged? Today, the pictures people conjure when they think of the world’s major religions – Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism– are distinctive and immediately recognisable. But two thousand years ago that was not the case. This unprecedented exhibition showcases some of the world’s oldest religious art from India to Ireland, and reveals how the exchange of ideas and objects in the first millennium influence our thinking about the Divine today. On display are the first known depiction of Christ north of the Alps, as well as some of the first surviving Qurans. BOOK NOW Get in Free – Become a Member Ashmolean Members get in FREE to all exhibitions – including Imagining the Divine – and enjoy behind-the-scenes activities as well as a 10% discount in the shop, café & restaurant. Click here to find out more Curator Talk Book Your Place Discover how iconic images of the world religions came into being at this special talk, 1pm Friday 27 October, with Empires of Faith project curator Stefanie Lenk. Book your place online today.  Book your place Exhibition Tours 3.30pm every Wednesday Join one of our free guided exhibition tours to discover more about the themes explored in our Imagining the Divine exhibition. Tours are free with the price of admission and no additional booking is required. Meet in Gallery 58. Find an event Workshops and Talks Book your place Learn more about how the visual identities of world religions changed in the first millenium, at one of our special talks, tours, short courses or workshops. Book your place online today.  Find an event Exhibition Shop Online & at the Museum Discover our new range of gifts, books, bags, jewellery, prints, art supplies, fashion, games and much more, all inspired by the artworks on display in our new Imagining the Divine exhibition. Shop online Talking Religion Gallery Talks Hear from the doctoral students from the Talking Religion research group, and get a taste of the cutting edge research behind the exhibition. The talks are free with the price of exhibition admission. Find out more Rooftop Restaurant New Menus Enjoy our brand new autumn menus at the Ashmolean Rooftop Restaurant this month. Become a member to enjoy a 10% discount in the shop, café & restaurant. View the menu and book your table online today. Book your table Exhibition Catalogue Buy Online Explore how belief systems developed and spread between AD 1–1000, and how encounters with other religions and cultures affected their visual identities, in theImagining the Divine exhibition catalogue. Buy online Just released The Jewish Journey 4000 years in 22 objects from the Ashmolean By Rebecca Abrams Remarkable Jewish objects in the Ashmolean are brought together for the first time in this new book, telling the history of the Jewish people from Ancient Mesopotamia to the present day. Spanning 4000 years and 14 countries, the objects document the astonishing diversity and adaptability of Jewish life over the centuries, and the long history of close interaction with other cultures and religions of the world. Buy your copy online Find out more Related Talks and Tours With Rebecca Abrams Discover what Jewish life was like in ancient times, or take a 4000-year journey through the galleries of the Ashmolean. Join author Rebecca Abrams at one of our upcoming events relating to her new book, The Jewish Journey. Find an event

Summer at the Ashmolean

Exhibitions  |  Events  |  Membership  |  Shop Last chance to see Open until 3 September A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see 120 stunning works from international collections spanning the brief but brilliant career of the Renaissance genius. BOOK NOW Extended Opening Hours Due to demand for tickets, additional evening time slots & Monday exhibition openings have now been added. Advance booking is strongly recommended. ★★★★★ "Stunning" The Times ★★★★★ "Magnificent" The Guardian Get in Free – Join Online Today Ashmolean Members get in FREE to all exhibitions – including Raphael: The Drawings – and enjoy behind-the-scenes activities as well a 10% discount in the shop, café & restaurant. Click here to find out more Summer Holidays Free Family Fun Join us 2–4pm every Wednesday & Thursday until 31 August for FREE Summer Holiday Drawing Adventures! Sharpen your pencils for a summer of dynamic drawing activities, inspired by our amazing objects. Draw something unexpected, sketch intriguing objects, play drawing games and even meet the artists. Find out more News Van Dyck painting on display The Ashmolean is delighted to have on display, on long-term loan, a painting by Flemish portrait painter Anthony Van Dyck (1599–1641). The portrait of Elizabeth Howard, 1st Countess of Peterborough, is on display in the Mallett Gallery of European Art (Gallery 44) alongside other portraits by Van Dyck, Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds. Find out more Be part of our story To celebrate Elias Ashmole's 400th birthday we are transforming two galleries at the heart of the Museum to retell the story of the founding collections. You can be part of the Ashmolean’s story and receive exciting rewards by making a donation today. Be part of our story

Coming Soon Imagining the Divine Art and the Rise of World Religions Exploring Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism, our autumn exhibition will be the first to look at the art of the five world religions as they spread across continents in the first millennium AD. Find out more Get in Free – Become a Member Ashmolean After Hours Open until 8pm Friday 25 August We're keeping our doors open late so you can explore the museum after our normal closing time or enjoy an evening viewing of Raphael: The Drawings. With music, bars and special workshops. Find out more Beyond The Brush Until 28 August In this free exhibition explore abstract ink paintings created by leading Chinese artists regarded as forerunners of the modern art movement in Taiwan in the 1960s. Find out more Exhibition Shop Online & at the Museum Discover our new range of gifts, books, bags, jewellery, prints, art supplies, fashion, games and much more, all inspired by the artworks on display in our Raphael: The Drawings exhibition. Shop online

Exhibition Catalogue Buy Online Based on new research this new book, which explores Raphael’s creativity and experimentation in over 120 drawings from his entire career, is the perfect exhibition companion. Buy online At the Royal Academy of Arts Matisse in the Studio Until 12 November Step into the studio of Henri Matisse, and discover how the artist’s eclectic collection of objects from the far corners of the world took on new life in his transcendent art. Find out more Rooftop Restaurant Book Your Table Enjoy our seasonal exhibition-inspired menus, delicious breakfasts, live jazz and fantastic views. View our current menus and book your table online today. Book your table At the V&A The V&A Exhibition Road Quarter There’s a new way into the Victoria and Albert Museum. Explore the beautiful new public areas and gallery spaces including the world’s first all-porcelain courtyard at the V&A Exhibition Road Quarter, our largest architectural intervention in 100 years. Find out more