48. Ancient Art from Cyprus and the Mediterranean: The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art with Joanna Smith

In this special episode, I’m joined by Dr. Joanna S. Smith, Consulting Curator for the new permanent gallery for the Cypriot Collection at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida. With a career based on decades of fieldwork at sites like Polis Chrysochous, Dr. Smith tells the fascinating story behind The Ringling Museum's ancient art collection. She traces it from the dreams of John Ringling, a circus magnate who became an art patron, to the 19th century explorations of Luigi Palma di Cesnola. The conversation culminates in a look ahead to “Ancient Art from Cyprus and the Mediterranean” The Ringling’s new permanent gallery that opened in January of this year. Dr. Smith offers an inside view of what visitors can expect, the standout Cypriot pieces in the collection, and why this gallery marks a significant moment not only for the museum but for the understanding of Cyprus as a cultural crossroads of the ancient world. Learn more:

https://emuseum.ringling.org/collections/141853/ancient-art-from-cyprus-and-the-mediterranean-gallery-12