Animals in 18th-Century European Art and Dining

It's one of the most beloved works in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago: an elaborate 18th-century centerpiece, featuring a merry band of elegantly clothed porcelain monkeys. Decorative animals of this kind have graced Europe's dinner settings for centuries, joined by more functional objects, like tusked wine decanters and butter dishes representing feathered fowl. To Ghenete Zelleke, Art Institute of Chicago curator of European Decorative Arts, these animals at the table are not just beautiful: they tell important stories about dietary fads and the vicissitudes of class. Join her as she takes us behind the scenes of the Art Institute's popular "Monkey Tour"—the self-guided, animal-themed romp through the collection.

This program is presented in partnership with the Art Institute of Chicago.

Video produced by Pentimenti Productions.

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