Arthur Pope
Encyclopedia
Arthur Upham Pope was an American archaeologist and historian of Persian
art.
Born in Phenix, Rhode Island, graduated from Worcester Academy
in 1899, and taught at Amherst College
and the University of California
. He married fellow Persian art historian, Phyllis Ackerman, in 1920. In 1923, Pope was appointed director of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor
. Two years later, he went to Iran
to complete research and serve as an art advisor to the Iranian government. He traveled around the world giving lectures and curating exhibitions of Persian art. Between 1925-1927, Pope and Ackerman would serve as chief interior designers of the Ahwahnee Hotel
in Yosemite National Park
. In 1930, he edited the Survey of Persian Art. In 1934 he hired the budding Islamicist Richard Ettinghausen
. The International Association of Iranian Art elected him president in 1960.
Pope and Ackerman were pioneers in the study of the arts of Asia, with a paramount dedication to Persian art, history, heritage and culture, and its interrelations. Their efforts led to the establishment in 1925 of the American Institute for Persian Art and Archaeology, which later became the Asia Institute
, in New York City
and their unique programs of research, publications, exhibitions and educational instruction continued at the Institute and around the world until their retirement. Pope is often credited with being responsible for helping revive the spirit of Iran's glorious past in the Pahlavi
era.
In 1964, during a state visit to Iran, Pope and Ackerman were formally invited to move The Asia Institute
in Shiraz
as an independent research center of publication and study, which would be housed in the Narenjestan, the beautiful compound of the Ghavam ol-Molk Shirazi. They accepted this generous offer and following months of planning, packing and organization, they returned permanently to Iran
in 1966.
Pope and Ackerman were to spend their final days in Iran
and upon their death, they were provided with a magnificent mausoleum built in Professor Pope Park on the banks of the Zayandeh River in their beloved city of Isfahan
. This unique tribute by Iran
for two of America's pioneer scholars of Persian studies, and their remarkable achievements during lives dedicated to art, culture, beauty and heritage, is best told in the biography of Pope and Ackerman, Surveyors of Persian Art: A Documentary Biography of Arthur Upham Pope & Phyllis Ackerman edited by Jay Gluck, Noël Siver and Sumi Hiramoto Gluck.
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
art.
Worcester Academy
Worcester Academy is an independent coeducational preparatory school spread over in Worcester, Massachusetts in the United States. The school is divided into a middle school, serving approximately 150 students in grades six to eight, and an upper school, serving approximately 500 students in...
in 1899, and taught at Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
and the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
. He married fellow Persian art historian, Phyllis Ackerman, in 1920. In 1923, Pope was appointed director of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor
California Palace of the Legion of Honor
The California Palace of the Legion of Honor is a fine art museum in San Francisco, California...
. Two years later, he went to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
to complete research and serve as an art advisor to the Iranian government. He traveled around the world giving lectures and curating exhibitions of Persian art. Between 1925-1927, Pope and Ackerman would serve as chief interior designers of the Ahwahnee Hotel
Ahwahnee Hotel
The Ahwahnee Hotel is a destination hotel in Yosemite National Park, California, on the floor of Yosemite Valley, constructed from stone, concrete, wood and glass, which opened in 1927...
in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
. In 1930, he edited the Survey of Persian Art. In 1934 he hired the budding Islamicist Richard Ettinghausen
Richard Ettinghausen
Richard Ettinghausen was a historian of Islamic art and chief curator of the Freer Gallery.-Education:Ettinghausen received his Ph.D...
. The International Association of Iranian Art elected him president in 1960.
Pope and Ackerman were pioneers in the study of the arts of Asia, with a paramount dedication to Persian art, history, heritage and culture, and its interrelations. Their efforts led to the establishment in 1925 of the American Institute for Persian Art and Archaeology, which later became the Asia Institute
Asia Institute
Asia Institute, was founded in 1928 in New York under the name of the American Institute for Persian Art and Archaeology. Later, it continued its activity in Shiraz between 1965-79...
, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and their unique programs of research, publications, exhibitions and educational instruction continued at the Institute and around the world until their retirement. Pope is often credited with being responsible for helping revive the spirit of Iran's glorious past in the Pahlavi
Pahlavi dynasty
The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi (reg. 1925–1941) and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty ...
era.
In 1964, during a state visit to Iran, Pope and Ackerman were formally invited to move The Asia Institute
Asia Institute
Asia Institute, was founded in 1928 in New York under the name of the American Institute for Persian Art and Archaeology. Later, it continued its activity in Shiraz between 1965-79...
in Shiraz
Shiraz, Iran
Shiraz is the sixth most populous city in Iran and is the capital of Fars Province, the city's 2009 population was 1,455,073. Shiraz is located in the southwest of Iran on the Roodkhaneye Khoshk seasonal river...
as an independent research center of publication and study, which would be housed in the Narenjestan, the beautiful compound of the Ghavam ol-Molk Shirazi. They accepted this generous offer and following months of planning, packing and organization, they returned permanently to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
in 1966.
Pope and Ackerman were to spend their final days in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and upon their death, they were provided with a magnificent mausoleum built in Professor Pope Park on the banks of the Zayandeh River in their beloved city of Isfahan
Isfahan (city)
Isfahan , historically also rendered in English as Ispahan, Sepahan or Hispahan, is the capital of Isfahan Province in Iran, located about 340 km south of Tehran. It has a population of 1,583,609, Iran's third largest city after Tehran and Mashhad...
. This unique tribute by Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
for two of America's pioneer scholars of Persian studies, and their remarkable achievements during lives dedicated to art, culture, beauty and heritage, is best told in the biography of Pope and Ackerman, Surveyors of Persian Art: A Documentary Biography of Arthur Upham Pope & Phyllis Ackerman edited by Jay Gluck, Noël Siver and Sumi Hiramoto Gluck.
See also
- Famous Americans in Iran