Sursock Museum

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Sursock Museum in Beirut.
Sursock Museum in Beirut.
The Marble Stairs of the Museum.
The Marble Stairs of the Museum.

Sursock Museum, which is officially known as Nicolas Sursock Museum, is a modern art museum in Beirut, Lebanon. It is located in the historic street known as Rue Sursock (or Sursock Street) in the Achrafieh district of Beirut. The street is home to other mansions that were built in the 18th century by Beirut's most prominent families such as the Sursocks and the Bustroses.

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[edit] History

The Sursock Museum is a great example of Lebanese architecture, which has Italianate, specifially Venetian, and Ottoman architectural influences. The wealthy Nicolas Sursock, a member of one of Beirut most prominent aristocratic families, built the museum as a private villa at the end of the 19th century. Nicolas Sursock who died in 1961 bequeathed his villa to the city of Beirut.[1]. According to his will, the villa was transformed into a museum.[2]

The Museum opened its doors in 1961 with an exhibit of works of contemporary Lebanese artists, setting a precedent for cultural events in Beirut.[3] Since then, more than a hundred exhibitions have been held, displaying the works of both Lebanese and international artists. In addition to modern art, the museum's permanent collection includes Japanese engravings and Islamic art.[4]

[edit] Museum collection

The following is a list of Lebanese and international artists whose work is in the Museum’s permanent collection:

  • Chafic Abboud
  • Lotti Adaimi
  • Anton Asfar
  • Simon Baltaxe
  • Juman Beyazit
  • Saloua R. Choucair
  • George Cyr
  • Paul Guiragossian
  • Georges Guv
  • John Haddian
  • Zavan Haditzian
  • Madi Hussein
  • Halim Jurdak
  • Elie Kanaan
  • Viola Kassab
  • Martayan
  • Michel Elmir
  • Levon Moumjian
  • Mounir Najm
  • Omar Onsi
  • Aref Rayess
  • Nadia Saikali
  • Mohamed Sakr
  • Stelio Scamanga
  • Juliana Seraphim
  • H. Torrossian
  • Sophie Yaramian
  • Khalil Zgaib

[edit] References

  1. ^ Darat al Funun currently on
  2. ^ Hotelbook.com - Events Guide: Sursock Museum (Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon)
  3. ^ Galleries Beirut, Sursock museum, Georges Guv Aref Rayess, John Haddian, Levon Moumjian. Madi Hussein
  4. ^ http://www.lebanon-tourism.gov.lb/Templates/InsideTemplate.aspx?PostingId=313

[edit] External links