Academy highlights Byzantine art

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How to put together an exhibition

Hundreds of priceless artefacts from a period spanning over 1,000 years are to go on show as part of a major exhibition on the Byzantine Empire.

London's Royal Academy of Arts will show 300 items, including manuscripts, icons, mosaic and jewels in the exhibition, Byzantine 330 to 1453.

They include the Antioch Chalice, a silver gilt cup once believed to have been used by Christ at the Last Supper.

Icons from St Catherine's Monastery in Egypt's Sinai desert also feature.

As a student, I saw this and thought it was absolute kitsch - it's a three-dimensional saint with a glass face Professor Robin Cormack Curator In pictures: Byzantine art

Many of the works have never been seen in the UK before, and curators have spent five years planning the exhibition. Some exhibits were not due to arrive until just before the exhibition starts on Saturday.

One of the curators, Professor Robin Cormack of the Courtald Insititute of Art, told the BBC lengthy negotiations were needed before some of the artefacts were released for the exhibition.

"Some of the lots are over 1,000 years old, and with modern conservation techniques you can bring some things, but not others," he explained.

"One of the items - a 6th Century icon from Rome - could not come at the last minute. One of the conservators there said 'this is too delicate to travel', and you have to accept that."

The exhibition begins with the foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD by Roman emperor Constantine the Great, and ends with the capture of the city by the Ottoman empire in 1453.

Professor Cormack said an intricate 12th Century enamel icon of the Archangel Michael was one of the exhibition's most important objects because it showed the influence Byzantine art had on western styles.

"I know this exhibition wouldn't work unless we had these pieces," he said.

"As a student, I saw this and thought it was absolute kitsch - it's a three-dimensional saint with a glass face. It's taken me many years to realise how extraordinary this object is.

"It was a complete innovation in the history of art to use gold, molten glass and paste, and it's in almost perfect condition."

The exhibition continues until 22 March.