(New York-June 4, 2004)—Due to the exceptional public response to The Metropolitan Museum of Art's acclaimed international loan exhibition Byzantium: Faith and Power (1261-1557), the Museum announced today that it will extend the run of the show through Monday, July 5, which is a special "Holiday Monday" viewing day at the Museum. The exhibition was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, July 4.
"Public interest in our Byzantium: Faith and Power exhibition has been most gratifying," commented Metropolitan Museum Director Philippe de Montebello, "with many visitors returning repeatedly to view the grand assemblage of masterpieces of Byzantine art that will never again be shown together. By extending the exhibition for an additional day – and taking advantage of the Museum's already-scheduled 'Holiday Monday' – we offer to our visitors an exceptional opportunity to view the exhibition, either for the first time or again, on a day that falls on an extended holiday weekend."
The Holiday Monday program – which was inaugurated in fall 2003 – opens the Museum to the public on Mondays, when it is normally closed.
Byzantium: Faith and Power (1261-1557) focuses on the dramatic cultural and artistic achievements of the last great age of Byzantine culture, uniting some 350 works from more than 20 countries. More than 200,000 visitors have viewed the exhibition since it opened to the public on March 23.
The exhibition is made possible by Alpha Bank.
Sponsorship is also provided by the J. F. Costopoulos Foundation, the A. G. Leventis Foundation and the Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation.
Additional support has been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
An indemnity has been granted by the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.