The Art and Influence of Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904) is organised by the future Lusail Museum in collaboration with Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art. Drawing from the Lusail Museum’s substantial collection of Orientalist paintings, and important international loans and artist commissions, this exhibition will both celebrate and reevaluate the artist’s legacy throughout his lifetime until the present day.

The exhibition is organised across three distinct sections. The first section looks at Gérôme’s Orientalist artworks while considering his artistic techniques and biography, raising questions around the wider discourse of Orientalism. The central gallery explores the dialogue between art and objectivity, and authenticity and imagination in Middle East photography during the lifetime and by reference to the legacy of Gérôme. And the final section brings the conversation to the present day by showcasing modern and contemporary art and ideas that resonate with the legacy of Gérôme, while seeking to challenge outdated ideas pertaining to geography and identity.

The exhibition is curated by guest curator Dr. Emily Weeks (Gérôme); Lusail Museum’s Curator of Photographs, Dr. Giles Hudson (Photography); and guest curator Sara Raza (Contemporary).