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The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Paradise Is a Garden

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 – Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018

06:30 PM – 07:30 PM
US/Central

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Presented by Lisa Balabanlilar, associate professor of history, Rice University

With its origins in pre-Islamic Iran, the classical Persian garden would be seen by some as the prototype of the celestial garden. As landscapes of repose and delight, gardens were also closely linked to political prestige and power. Demonstrating control over land, finances, labor, and nature itself, the pleasure garden was a prerogative of kingship, an assertion of ruling legitimacy, as well as a display of aesthetic prowess.

Universally recognized as deeply meaningful spiritual and political landscapes, the Persian garden would become the most influential garden design in the Western world, spreading from Iran to Spain to India to Italy and Western Europe. The lecture explores the cultural and social life of the Persian garden to provide context for the exhibition Garden Paradise: The Magnificent Safavid Carpet from the Burrell Collection, Glasgow.

Tickets
• $5 MFAH Members
• $10 Adult Nonmembers
Reserve your seat in advance! Get tickets below.

► Plan ahead for your visit with parking information.

HOURS & ADMISSION

  • Wednesday, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Thursday, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Friday - Saturday, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Sunday , 12:30 pm - 6:00 pm
    • Monday (Except selected holidays) | Closed.
    • Tuesday | Closed.
    • Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day | Closed.
  • Museum Admission

    ALL ACCESS tickets provide entry to Special Exhibitions and the MFAH Permanent Collections. Purchase online or drop by any admissions desk.
    • MFAH Member  FREE
    • ALL ACCESS (Adult 19+)  $24
    • ALL ACCESS (Senior 65+ with ID)  $20
    • ALL ACCESS (Youth 13–18)  $20
    • ALL ACCESS (Child 12 & Under)  FREE
    • *Thursday MFAH Permanent Collections (All Ages)  FREE
    • *Thursday ALL ACCESS (13 & Up)  $10
    On Thursday, admission to the MFAH Permanent Collections is free for all individuals, courtesy of Shell USA, Inc. Special Exhibitions require a separate, discounted ALL ACCESS ticket.

Directions & Parking

  • Free Parking
  • Paid Parking
  • Street Parking

Special Offers / Dining

Paolo Fronza, from Fellini Caffè, runs this sophisticated dining operation. Enjoy an array of Italian-inspired fare with a Texas flair, a European-style coffee bar, a kids menu, and much more at the MFA Café, located on the lower level of the Beck Building.

Events at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

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