What can we learn from humble fragments of painted plaster walls? A lot, as it turns out! Paintings conservator Kate Smith and assistant research curator Caitlin Clerkin will discuss a display of wall painting fragments excavated at ancient Dura-Europos, Syria. The collaborative research into materials that underpins this display shows how some answers—and more questions—can be generated by casting a technical lens on forgotten parts of the collections. This talk focuses on a new installation in Gallery 3440.

This gallery talk is part of our New on View series, highlighting recent gallery installations and presenting new insights into recent acquisitions or old favorites.