Falcons: The Art of the Hunt

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, National Museum of Asian Art, Washington D.C.

Swift, fierce, and loyal, falcons have been celebrated for millennia. Falcons: The Art of the Hunt presents a selection of paintings and objects from ancient Egypt to China, looking at how they were viewed in various ancient cultures .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. Unfortunately, the gallery website does not offer a preview of works included but some of its falcon-related objects can be seen here.