More than 500 Egyptian treasures will come to Melbourne exclusively from the British Museum for the International exclusive exhibition Pharaoh which has been announced for the National Gallery of Victoria’s 2024 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series.
Minister for Creative Industries and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos announced the new exhibition to mark the 20th anniversary of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, which has attracted more than seven million visitors since it began in 2004.
Pharaoh will take visitors on a journey through 3000 years of ancient Egyptian art, design and culture, from colossal sculptures, epic tomb and temple architecture to sacred relics and jewellery.
It is the most ambitious international presentation of the British Museum’s collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. Many of the works will be displayed in Australia for the first time.
Highlights include a larger-than-life statue of legendary Ramses II alongside one of the most complete sculptures to survive ancient Egypt depicting his grandson Sety II; a limestone tomb wall carved with hieroglyphs; and an enormous fist from the temple of Ptah weighing 1.5 tonnes.
Pharaoh also includes works commissioned by and celebrating ancient Egypt’s most famous rulers Tutankhamun, Queen Nefertari, Khufu, and foreign leaders such as Alexander the Great.
The accompanying program will include a free family-friendly exhibition in the NGV’s children’s gallery with hands-on activities, as well as a new season of NGV Friday Nights running each week throughout the exhibition.
Pharaoh will be on display from 14 June to 6 October 2024 at NGV International.
Tickets and information are available via the NGV website: ngv.vic.gov.au
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