KHMER ART

In the Guimet collection

Description

With more than one hundred works of art, the magnificent display of Khmer sculpture conserved at the Guimet Museum of Asian Art in Paris is the most complete collection in the world outside Cambodia. As such, it provides a full panorama of ancient Khmer art between the 6th and 19th centuries, and is part of the worldwide renown enjoyed by the museum. However, it was not until 2008 that this exceptional group became the subject of an in-depth catalogue; ten years later, for the first time, this exhaustive volume has been translated into English. Written by Pierre Baptiste, heritage curator in charge of Southeast Asia, and Thierry Zéphir, research fellow at the Guimet Museum, the book presents a large selection of chefs-d’oeuvre in chronological order, illustrating the major stylistic divisions in Khmer art. The catalogue begins with a fascinating essay recounting the history of these sculptures since their discovery in the monuments of Cambodia in the 19th century and their subsequent life in France. This is followed by a detailed description of each work, shown in exquisite photographs from various angles. The book also has an appendix featuring vignettes of all 168 works with short captions, an extensive bibliography, an index, as well as maps and plans.