Journey across continents and through centuries of art
in four stunning exhibitions at the MFAH.

Life & Luxury: The Art of Living in Eighteenth-Century Paris
September 18, 2011–January 2, 2012

Experience the elegant lifestyle of 18th-century Parisian aristocracy. This sumptuous show takes you through the daily activities of the city's elite society, from sunrise to sunset. Dressing, writing, collecting, eating, and evening entertainment set the stage for showcasing a wide range of fashionable luxury goods and stunning objets d'art.

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Gifts of the Sultan: The Arts of Giving at the Islamic Courts
October 23, 2011–January 16, 2012

Explore the impact of gift giving—a practice nearly as ancient and widespread as human culture itself—on the development of art throughout the Islamic world. Gifts of the Sultan follows the story of Islamic art and culture from the 8th to the 19th century, opening a window on the lavish gift exchange at Islamic courts that intimately linked art with diplomacy, religion, and personal relationships.

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Dutch and Flemish Masterworks from the
Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Collection
November 13, 2011–February 12, 2012

Enter the Golden Age of Dutch painting through one of the world's finest private collections. Masterworks by Rembrandt, Gerrit Dou, and Frans Hals, among others, form a magnificent picture of the 17th century, a period when the arts flourished as never before in both the Southern and the Northern Netherlands.

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New Formations: Czech Avant-Garde Art and Modern Glass
from the Roy and Mary Cullen Collection
November 6–March 11, 2012

Seminal works of 20th-century art, hidden from the public during the Cold War era, shed light on a still little-known chapter of history. This exhibition offers outstanding examples from an imaginative and inspiring private collection, literally a "New Formation" of the international avant-garde.

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