Ancient Beauty and Body Art from Four Continents - Upcoming Exhibition | San Antonio Museum of Art
Source: https://www.samuseum.org/artwork/exhibition/ancient-beauty-and-boday-art-from-four-continents
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:22
Ancient Beauty and Body Art from Four Continents - Upcoming Exhibition | San Antonio Museum of Art
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Please note: the Museum will be closed on Friday, April 24th and will close early at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25th.
Open Today: 10AM — 5PM
En Español
Upcoming Exhibition
Ancient Beauty and Body Art from Four Continents
November 21, 2026–November 27, 2027
Visiting SAMA
Tomb Figure of a Woman, Chinese, Tang dynasty, 618
–
907, Painted earthenware, h. 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm); w. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm); d. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown, 2007.20.14
Ancient Beauty and Body Art from Four Continents
explores how people from four cultures, distant in geography and history, altered and enhanced their appearances to conform to, or deviate from, their societies’ expectations. Portraits and other images of people from New Kingdom Egypt (16th
–
11th century BC), Early Imperial Rome (1st century BC
–
2nd century AD), Classic Maya (AD 250
–
950), Tang Dynasty China (AD 618
–
907) do not necessarily show us how real, historical people looked; instead, they show us how they wanted others to see them. Ancient beauty standards varied widely from one culture to another and were often strikingly different from what is idealized in popular media today.
Alongside ancient faces,
Ancient Beauty
displays the tools, accessories, and vessels used in antiquity as part of beauty and body modification practices, including hair styling and removal, piercing and tattooing, and applying makeup, skincare, and perfumes. The implements associated with these intimate rituals are often works of art in their own right. People from all four cultures were buried with precious objects related to self-care and personal adornment. In life and in the afterlife, the way a person crafted their appearance told their community who they were, communicating their power, taste, wealth, gender, ancestry, and age. Thousands of years later, we can try to understand some of those messages from the beautiful things left behind.
The exhibition highlights works of art from across SAMA’s ancient collections, many of which have not been on view in recent years, along with generous loans from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Brooklyn Museum.
Exhibition Gallery
Tomb Figure of a Woman, Chinese, Tang dynasty, 618
–
907, Painted earthenware, h. 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm); w. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm); d. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown, 2007.20.14
Incense Burner in the form of a Woman, Roman, 2nd
–
3rd century A.D., Bronze, h. 9 1/2 in. (24.2 cm); w. 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, Museum Purchase: Stark-Willson Collection, 86.138.249
Court Lady, Chinese, Tang dynasty, 618
–
906, Earthenware with slip and pigment, h. 13 in. (33 cm); w. 4 in. (10.2 cm); d. 4 in. (10.2 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mr. T. T. Tsui, 92.17.2
Plate with a Seated Nobleman, Maya, ca. A.D. 600, Earthenware with paint, h. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm); diam. 15 3/4 in. (40 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Ramona Frates Seeligson, 98.12.10
Pair of Matched Pendants, Maya, ca. A.D. 600, Shell with jade inlay, each: h. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm); w. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, bequest of Elizabeth Huth Coates, 97.1.20.a-b
Cosmetic Dish in the Form of an Oryx, Egyptian, ca. 1550–1069 B.C., Steatite, h. 3 in. (7.6 cm); w. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); d. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, purchased with the Grace Fortner Rider Fund, 88.2
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SAMA is more than a museum; it’s a place to explore the world.
Ways to Support SAMA
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Open today
from 10AM–5PM
200 West Jones Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78215
Tel:
210.978.8100
Get Directions
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Volunteer / Internship
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© 2026 San Antonio Museum of Art. All rights reserved.
Visit
Purchase Tickets
Visitor Information
Visita
Groups + Tours
Restaurant
Open today : 10AM — 5PM
200 West Jones Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78215
210.978.8100
Join Today
Artwork
Current Exhibitions
Upcoming Exhibitions
Past Exhibitions
Browse the Collection
Collection Areas
Now on View
Canvas to Clay: Georgia O’Keeffe & Maria Martinez to Mata Ortiz & Tonalá
On View February 28
New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations
Learn
Educators
Families
Adults
Events
Full Calendar
Families
Adults
Educators
Members
April 28
Lecture: From Ancient Capital to Terrorist Target—Recovering and Stabilizing the Past in Iraq with the Nimrud Rescue Project with Brian Michael Lione
May 1
Bricks & Beer: A Preservation Month Tour
Blog
Join & Give
Become a Member
Give a Membership
Donate to SAMA
Corporate Support
Our Corporate Supporters
Donate
Shop
Accessories
Home & Gifts
Books
Arts & Exhibitions
Membership
Join and give today!
Please note: the Museum will be closed on Friday, April 24th and will close early at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25th.
Open Today: 10AM — 5PM
En Español
Upcoming Exhibition
Ancient Beauty and Body Art from Four Continents
November 21, 2026–November 27, 2027
Visiting SAMA
Tomb Figure of a Woman, Chinese, Tang dynasty, 618
–
907, Painted earthenware, h. 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm); w. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm); d. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown, 2007.20.14
Ancient Beauty and Body Art from Four Continents
explores how people from four cultures, distant in geography and history, altered and enhanced their appearances to conform to, or deviate from, their societies’ expectations. Portraits and other images of people from New Kingdom Egypt (16th
–
11th century BC), Early Imperial Rome (1st century BC
–
2nd century AD), Classic Maya (AD 250
–
950), Tang Dynasty China (AD 618
–
907) do not necessarily show us how real, historical people looked; instead, they show us how they wanted others to see them. Ancient beauty standards varied widely from one culture to another and were often strikingly different from what is idealized in popular media today.
Alongside ancient faces,
Ancient Beauty
displays the tools, accessories, and vessels used in antiquity as part of beauty and body modification practices, including hair styling and removal, piercing and tattooing, and applying makeup, skincare, and perfumes. The implements associated with these intimate rituals are often works of art in their own right. People from all four cultures were buried with precious objects related to self-care and personal adornment. In life and in the afterlife, the way a person crafted their appearance told their community who they were, communicating their power, taste, wealth, gender, ancestry, and age. Thousands of years later, we can try to understand some of those messages from the beautiful things left behind.
The exhibition highlights works of art from across SAMA’s ancient collections, many of which have not been on view in recent years, along with generous loans from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Brooklyn Museum.
Exhibition Gallery
Tomb Figure of a Woman, Chinese, Tang dynasty, 618
–
907, Painted earthenware, h. 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm); w. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm); d. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown, 2007.20.14
Incense Burner in the form of a Woman, Roman, 2nd
–
3rd century A.D., Bronze, h. 9 1/2 in. (24.2 cm); w. 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, Museum Purchase: Stark-Willson Collection, 86.138.249
Court Lady, Chinese, Tang dynasty, 618
–
906, Earthenware with slip and pigment, h. 13 in. (33 cm); w. 4 in. (10.2 cm); d. 4 in. (10.2 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mr. T. T. Tsui, 92.17.2
Plate with a Seated Nobleman, Maya, ca. A.D. 600, Earthenware with paint, h. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm); diam. 15 3/4 in. (40 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Ramona Frates Seeligson, 98.12.10
Pair of Matched Pendants, Maya, ca. A.D. 600, Shell with jade inlay, each: h. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm); w. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, bequest of Elizabeth Huth Coates, 97.1.20.a-b
Cosmetic Dish in the Form of an Oryx, Egyptian, ca. 1550–1069 B.C., Steatite, h. 3 in. (7.6 cm); w. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); d. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, purchased with the Grace Fortner Rider Fund, 88.2
Become A Member
SAMA is more than a museum; it’s a place to explore the world.
Ways to Support SAMA
See Membership Info
Open today
from 10AM–5PM
200 West Jones Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78215
Tel:
210.978.8100
Get Directions
Contact Us
About The Museum
Press
Event Rentals
Jobs
Volunteer / Internship
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
In The News
Member Magazine
Annual Reports
Donate to SAMA
© 2026 San Antonio Museum of Art. All rights reserved.