From Istanbul to Detroit: International networks of Islamic art in the early 20th century

Abstract

While past decades have seen the rise of historiographical studies on Islamic art
exploring collections, exhibitions and influential figures, the international nature
of the formative years of the discipline, especially that of networks of people, is
an aspect that needs further investigation. This article explores the beginnings of
Islamic art in the United States by taking a well-known figure in Turkey at its center.
Mehmet Aga-Oglu, curator of Islamic art at the Evkaf Museum, migrated from
Istanbul to Detroit in 1929 to create a collection of Islamic art for one of the oldest
museums in the country, Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). A group of international
scholars facilitated this transition in their common goal to transform the United
States into a leader in the academic studies of Islamic art history. By taking this
little studied case, this article explores the key role this network of scholars played
in establishing a new academic discipline in North America, which resulted in a
little-known connection between Turkey and the United States as well as a keen
interest in Turkish art and collections in Turkey in furthering the scholarship of
Islamic art produced in the first half of the 20th century. To this end, this article
outlines the beginnings and state of the field in 20th century; explores DIA’s
search for a curator and Aga-Oglu’s appointment through the efforts of Bernard
Berenson, Rudolf Meyer Riefstahl and Wilhelm R. Valentiner to highlight their
unrecognized contributions; and Aga-Oglu’s curatorial work at DIA from 1929
to 1933.