The 33rd Annual Ruth K. Shartle Symposium
Lapis Lazuli: A Blue More Precious Than Gold
Lapis lazuli has been used for millennia to create highly prized objects and extraordinary works of art. Among the few deposits of this rare blue stone, those in the Kokcha River valley of present-day Afghanistan were the first to be mined, beginning approximately 6,000 years ago.
At the 33rd Annual Ruth K. Shartle Symposium, five distinguished speakers trace the geologic origin and dissemination of lapis lazuli over several millennia, discuss recent advances in art conservation-related scientific research on natural ultramarine, and explore the unique role of lapis lazuli in the arts of cultures around the world.
This symposium is open to the public, and is included in the regular price of admission to the museum. No registration is required. Click here to download flyer with full details.
Speaker Five-speaker program