Mannerly Maya Exhibit of 130 Pieces From Ancient Culture Depicts Regal Life by Heather Nalbone Organizing a new exhibit dedicated to the art of an ancient aristocratic culture spanning 200 years was a complicated and lengthy endeavoróand it shows. Developing ìCourtly Art of the Ancient Maya,î an impressive display of 130 loaned pieces now on view at the National Gallery of Art, required curators Kathleen Berrin and Mary Ellen Miller to work with museums in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, as well as San Francisco, Seattle and Princeton. With its intricately chiseled panels and ceramics brought back to life through expert excavation and renovation, this arrangement is captivating to any fan of art history. The exhibit includes death masks made of green jade, plates painted with courtly scenes, and portrait heads made of stucco. Thereís also a vessel made out of a turtle shell and a white stone scepter depicting Kíawiil, the Mayan goddess of lightning and power. One fascinating case includes bones taken from burial grounds that were carved to resemble figurines and other objects. Another intricately carved sculpture wasnít excavated until 2002 after being buried for more than 1,000 years. Located in the area that runs from modern-day southern Mexico to parts of Honduras and El Salvador, the ancient Mayan civilization reached its peak during the period between A.D. 600 and A.D. 800. Mayan occupation spanned more than 50 city-states, each of which had its own king and court of regal power. Rulers were surrounded by courtiers of musicians, dwarves, messengers and fan bearers, images of which have been found on many of the relics unearthed since European explorers began rediscovering the ancient cities in the 16th century. The National Gallery exhibit provides a glimpse into this newly discovered piece of cultural history through a carefully laid out collection of the palacesí finest commissioned works. Pieces taken from carved thrones and mosaic mirrors represent courts of the highest level of sovereignty. Just one attentive viewing of the exhibit in its entirety enables visitors to imagine kings reclining on jaguar pelts while feasting on tamales and frothy chocolate drinks. With a concentration on the political and religious life in the cities, the exhibit focuses largely on carvings and paintings that represent the many gods of Mayan culture. The various vessels on display, most of them ceramic, are decorated with notably visible images and writings. One memorable painting depicts a courtly ballgame in which losers were sometimes sacrificed. Another depicts the palace of the god of trade and tribute. One of the simplest relics is a mirror of pyrite and sandstone thought to hold magical properties of rebirth. The display wraps up tastefully with an explanatory film and murals replicated on the museumís walls through infrared imaging. The simulated battle scenes were originally painted on the walls of a small three-room temple in A.D. 792 and included battle scenes and presentations of captives. ìCourtly Art of the Ancient Mayaî runs through July 25 at the National Gallery of Art, Third and Ninth Streets at Constitution Avenue, NW. For more information, please call (202) 737-4215 or visit www.nga.gov. Heather Nalbone is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat. Riveraís Cubism Display Nicely Contrasts Mayan Exhibit With 20 paintings by a renowned modernist, "The Cubist Paintings of Diego Rivera: Memory, Politics, Place" is a contrasting complement to the National Gallery of Artís collection of ancient Mesoamerican relics on display in "Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya." A leader of the Mexican muralist movement, Rivera was one of the most prominent 20th-century Mexican artists. The National Gallery exhibit focuses on his canvases painted in a synthetic cubist style that drew upon the works of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Most of the paintings are still lifes and portraits, but the exhibit also includes depictions of the Eiffel Tower and the Fountain of Toledo. Located in a gallery connected directly to the "Courtly Art" exhibit, the brightly colored cubist paintings offer a sharp contrast to the muted tones of the ancient Mayan artifacts. The exhibit focuses on Riveraís work during his time in France and Spain from 1914 to 1915, and was arranged in collaboration with the Museo de Arte Moderno in Mexico City, where it will be on display beginning in September. "The Cubist Paintings of Diego Rivera: Memory, Politics, Place" runs through July 25 at the National Gallery of Art, Third and Ninth Streets at Constitution Avenue, NW. For more information, please call (202) 737-4215 or visit www.nga.gov. óHeather Nalbone