Sursock Museum

Coordinates: 33°53′34.59″N 35°30′58.42″E / 33.8929417°N 35.5162278°E / 33.8929417; 35.5162278

Sursock Museum in Beirut.

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 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. The museum was ranked #7 of 112 things to do in Beirut by Lonely Planet travelers^[1].

History

The Sursock Museum is a great example of Lebanese architecture, which has Italianate, specifically Venetian, and Ottoman architectural influences. The wealthy Nicolas Sursock, a member of one of Beirut's 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.^[2] According to his will, the villa was transformed into a museum.^[3]

The Museum opened its doors in 1961 with an exhibit of works of contemporary Lebanese artists, setting a precedent for cultural events in Beirut.^[4] 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.^[5]

Expansion

The new extension of the museum consists of building four new underground floors beneath the current garden at a cost of 12 million dollars (US).^[6] French architect, Jean-Michel Wilmotte, and Lebanese architect, Jacques Abou Khaled, are leading the expansion project^[7]. The expansion project would increase the museum’s surface from 2,000 square meters to 7,000 square meters, and include additional exhibition rooms, a library, a bookshop, and music room ^[8]. The project is expected to be completed end of 2012^[9].

Museum collection

The museum collection consists of 5,000 pieces, such as paintings, sculpture, ceramics, glassware, and iconography, dating from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.^[6] 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 Simone Baltaxé-Martayan Juman Beyazit Saloua Raouda Choucair George Cyr

Paul Guiragossian Georges Guv John Haddian Zavan Haditzian Madi Hussein Halim Jurdak Elie Kanaan

Anita Toutikian Viola Kassab Michel Elmir Levon Moumjian Mounir Najm Omar Onsi Aref Rayess

Nadia Saikali Mohamed Sakr Stelio Scamanga Juliana Seraphim H. Torrossian Sophie Yaramian Khalil Zgaib Alain Le Yaouanc

References

1. ^ www.lonelyplanet.com/lebanon/beirut/.../museum/sursock-museum
2. ^ Daratalfunun.org
3. ^ Guides.hotelbook.com, Events Guide: Sursock Museum (Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon)
4. ^ Galleries Beirut, Sursock museum, Georges Guv Aref Rayess, John Haddian, Levon Moumjian. Madi Hussein
5. ^ Lebanon-tourism.gov.lb
6. ^ ^{a b} Annahar.com
7. ^ Jadesigns-architects.com
8. ^ http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/Jul/14/Mitri-presents-project-to-expand-Sursock-
9. ^ http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Travel-and-Tourism/2011/Nov-11/153679-sursock-museum-to-reopen-its-doors-in-2012.ashx#axzz1dMoRbxsE

See also

• Nicolas Sursock

External links

• Lebanon.com, information
• Onefineart.com, informationh