the UNIVERSITY GALLERY COLLECTION
THE COLLECTION
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CURRENT EVENTS

Stirrup Jar
North Central Coast, Peru
Ceramic, redware
Given by Miss Jane Maxwell in memory of her father, James Maxwell


This jar could be loosely categorized as a narrative. In it, a molded, articulated feline appears to be crouching over or devouring a decapitated human figure. Along the side of the vessel is an oversized human head. The position of the decapitated body could indicate that it may have been tossed off a pyramid after a sacrifice of defeated warriors. The maker of this vessel may have also been inspired by the imagery of large cats devouring their hunted victims. The dominance of the feline on this vessel reiterates its importance as a supernatural creature in Moche culture.

VISITOR INFORMATION
ABOUT THE MUSEUMS
The University Gallery was established in 1978 by the Board of Trustees of the University of Delaware to promote excellence and understanding of the arts and humanities at the University and to stimulate the cultural development of its students and the citizens of Delaware.

The University Gallery Collection is housed in Old College in downtown Newark, Delaware. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1832 and served as the original classroom and dormitory facility for the institution, then known as Newark College. Old College is reported to be the first Greek Revival structure in the state. Exhibition space is comprised of two galleries and a print study room, with collections storage, exhibition preparation area, and administrative offices are housed one floor below.

The collection includes rare images from photographer Gertrude Kasebier, extensive collections of pre--Columbian pottery and American Inuit drawings, and works ranging from Russian icons through contemporary American photography.

The University Museums are in the process of putting together a digital archive of images from the University Gallery Collection. This will be an opportunity for the public to view and study rarely seen works from the collection. The archive will be posted at a later date. Please check back for updates.

The University Gallery is a teaching museum and its collections have been used extensively for several decades in instructing students in art historical research, art techniques, and in the standards and practices of the museum profession. If you need further information or wish to access the collection for study, please contact the curator, Jan Broske.