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Falcons: The Art of the Hunt

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Falcons: The Art of the Hunt

A man in green rides a white horse with orange legs across a wide field. A falcon attacks another bird in the upper right corner.

Dates

January 15–July 17, 2022
Location

Freer Gallery of Art | Gallery 20
Collection Area

Arts of the Islamic World

Swift, fierce, and loyal, falcons have been celebrated for millennia. In ancient Egypt, they were closely associated with Horus, the god of the heavens. By the early eighth century in Syria, falcons were being trained to become skillful hunters at the royal courts. The art of falconry soon spread across the rest of the Islamic world, to the Byzantine empire in the west, and to the east as far as China. It is still practiced in many societies today, especially in the Arab world. A selection of paintings and objects from ancient Egypt to China offers a glimpse into the fascinating world of falcons.

Detail, A Mounted man hunting birds with a falcon; Mughal dynasty, early 18th century; Color and gold on paper; Gift of Charles Lang Freer F1907.212

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