“Maverick Kings: Three Visionary Pharaohs of Egypt’s Golden Age” focuses on three celebrated rulers of the 18th Dynasty (1550–1292 BCE): Hatshepsut, Amenhotep III, and Akhenaten. Each pharaoh is known for their patronage of artists, architects, and craftspeople who produced distinctive portraits, impressive buildings, and art with a very recognizable style—these rulers understood the power of images and used them effectively during their long reigns.

Join Lawrence Berman, John F. Cogan Jr. and Mary L. Cornille Chair, Art of Ancient Egypt, Nubia, and the Near East, as he explores ancient Egypt’s “golden age” of great societal and artistic change. Lawrence takes you through important loans and spectacular works from the MFA’s renowned collection of ancient Egyptian art—including translations of hieroglyphic inscriptions that allow these kings to “speak” to us in their own words.

Learn about the distinctive character of each reign, the continuing influence and appeal of Egyptian imagery, and how the issues of imagery, brand, and identity that concerned the pharaohs are still relevant today.