There are an estimated 2,400 to 4,000 known objects including 300 bronze heads, elephant tusks, and 850 relief plaques. Cultural encounters between europe and benin from the fifteenth to the twentieth century 1. The 16th century bronze plaques from the kingdom of benin are among the most recognized masterpieces of african art, and yet many details of their commission and installation in the palace in benin city, nigeria, are little understood. A glimpse of a thriving ancient civilisation, these resources include information on the bronze plaques and art of benin, gallery activities to engage students and a guide for teachers, featuring primary history schemes of work. Benin bronzes looted by the british returned to nigeria. Benin arose as a citystate in the late 1100s or 1200s and expanded into a larger kingdom or empire in the mid1400s. In this revised and updated edition of the art of benin, paula girshick. Hundreds of bronze artworks created under nigerias benin empire were looted by the british army during an 1897 raid. When the portuguese made the first european contact with the west african. The art of benin is elegant, fiery and mostly locked in the british. The art of benin paperback june 17, 1995 by paula girshick benamos author 4.
The benin bronzes are a group of more than a thousand metal plaques and sculptures that decorated the royal palace of the kingdom of benin in what is now modernday nigeria. A superb photographic introduction to the spectacular art of the west african kingdom of benin, including the wellknown brass plaques and heads. Portonovo is the capital and cotonou is the largest city and chief port. The analysis in this book raises fundamental questions about how the art of benin, and nonwestern art histories more generally, are understood. Published to accompany the major international touring exhibition which comes to chicago in the summer of 2008, this monumental volume features more than 500 stunning reproductions alongside important new scholarship on the prized sculptures and. For more like this subscribe to the open university channel s. Benin citypresident muhammadu buhari, former head of state, gen. Jonathan jones begins a new series on the legacy of empire.
The precolonial benin kingdom or empire was located in what is today southern nigeria. The arrival in europe of the treasures from benin produced an enormous sensation, causing a reevaluation of and new appreciation for african art. More than a century ago, british troops looted thousands of works of art from the benin empire one man decided to return his grandfathers loot. Buhari, gowon, others to grace oba of benins book launch. An oba, or king, and his court have, from around 0 c. The author, nigel barley, is a famous anthropologist and writer, best known for his books. It is entirely separate from the republic of benin, which was then known as dahomey. The art of the kingdom of benin, not to be confused with the republic of benin, is most widely known for its bronze plaques. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Collectively, the objects form the best known examples of benin art, created from the thirteenth century onwards, by the edo people, which also included other sculptures in brass or bronze, including some famous portrait. The book does not present an encyclopedic picture of benin history and culture, but it is still extremely enlightening.
Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. The kingdom of benin, home of the edospeaking peoples, is located in the tropical rain forest region of what is now nigeria. The trade in objects in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries 2. In revenge, the british sent a punitive expedition to benin, which destroyed the city. Newly commissioned, with stunning photographs, this book follows a beautiful tour of highlights from the british museums collection of artworks from benin. Benin art is the art from the kingdom of benin or edo empire 14401897, a pre colonial. The imperial confrontations of the late nineteenth century 3. And in 1903 henry ling roth published a pioneering book on benin called. When european merchant ships began to visit west africa from the 15th century onwards, benin came to control the trade between the inland peoples and the europeans on the coast. The book throws critical light on the takenforgranted assumptions which underpin current interpretations and presents an original and revisionist account of benin art history. Michael row the power structure of benin kingdom was entirely built around the oba king who held a divine right to rule. The king, known as the oba, is the central figure in the benin kingdom and a frequent subject of benin royal artwork. I would have appreciated having some more information on the premeditated character of the british attack and the calculation that the cultural objects to be found in benin would pay for the.
Life before benin is a tiny country in west african region bordered with nigeria, little is known about this country, its history, culture, people, and tradition, here you have the entire history of republic of benin, starting from the first day of. Showcases a series of specially taken photographs of key pieces in the br. The kingdom of benin has produced some of the most renowned examples of african art. The gorgeous objects presented in this bookevidence of a sophisticated culture at least five hundred years oldwere stolen as war booty and taken back to britain to be sold as exquisite curiosities to. Benin had already had access to copper to use to make bronzebrass art through trade routes from other parts of west africa even before the arrival of europeans on the west african coast, and it was benin that killed off the slave trade with europeans within a matter of a few decades by deliberately restricting the sale of slaves to such an.
The book has also some very beautiful illustrations of benin art and a short select bibliography for those who want to deepen their knowledge of benin art. Uncover the famous bronzes from the royal palace in benin. You should work through this material as part of your study of chapters 1 and 2 on the art of benin. In this revised and updated edition of the art of benin, paula girshick benamos explains the role played by art in every aspect of benin life. Exploring the visual arts of the benin kingdom of africa 2. Now, well over a hundred years later, two of those statues have been. Benin art by forman w and b and philip dark abebooks. The peoples guide to benin this is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service, and ordered as a printed book. The british auctions sparked a fever for benin bronzes, and museums in the u. The man who returned his grandfathers looted art bbc news. The art of benin art history bibliographies cite this. See all 4 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. This book attempts to explain the form and symbolic content of benin art in terms of the larger society of benin and its traditional purposes.
This asset accompanies cultural encounters, the third book of the arts past and present aa100. Newly commissioned, with stunning photographs, this book. Owing to the welcome given to the first edition in the vernacular of the short history, i have endeavoured in this english version to meet the needs of foreigners who do not understand the benin language, but are anxious to know its history. The art of benin is elegant, fiery and mostly locked in the british museum. Metpublications is a portal to the mets comprehensive publishing program featuring over five decades of met books, journals, bulletins, and online publications on art history available to read. Royal arts of a west african kingdom art institute. List of books and articles about benin history online. A short history of benin 3rd edition by jacob egharevba. Craftsmen were organised in specialised guilds that worked in the palace producing. Stating that it is vital that benin art remains in its current location alongside all the great cultures of the world spring, aa100 dvd rom the art of benin 02. The obas ancestors were gods, and it is believed that he controls the forces that affect the wellbeing of the entire kingdom. Bringing dreamworks animation artist, mike hernandezs plein air paintings together in a beautifully bounded, cottonwood canvas book. When the portuguese made the first european contact with the west african kingdom of benin in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, the kingdom was.
An introduction by peter mortonwilliams traces bradburys development as an interpreter of the culture, society and art of benin, beginning with his first studies in the filed and culminating in the. Yakubu gowon, members of the diplomatic community and other distinguished nigerians are expected to attend a book launch to mark. The book also surveys the intricate, luminous ivory sculpture of owo, a nearby yoruba kingdom from which benins reigning dynasty traces its origins. This sumptuous photographic book showcases a series of specially taken photographs of key pieces in the british museums collection. Metpublications is a portal to the mets comprehensive book and online publishing program with close to 700 titles published from 1964 to the present. In the ensuing decadesfrom oba ovonramwens exile in 1897 up to the resumption of benins second dynasty with the enthronement of his son, oba eweka ii, in 1914works trickled out of. Museum of cultural history, ucla, 1983 art 111 pages. This book demonstrates that copper alloy casting was widespread in southern nigeria and has been practiced for at least a millennium. Buy the art of benin 1st edition by benamos, paula g. Within the kingdom, specialized artists belonged to guilds with hereditary membership and worked solely for the oba.
Until the late 19th century, one of the major powers in west africa was the kingdom of benin in what is now southwest nigeria. Antique works of art from benin smithsonian libraries. Benin art by forman, w forman, b dark, philip and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Buy the art of benin 01 by nigel barley, kevin lovelock isbn. The ancient kingdom of benin is one of the most sophisticated in africa.