Curious about Classical art and why it matters today? Want to hear about the latest archeological discoveries—from the people who made them? Enjoy hearing behind-the-scenes tales from curators planning exhibitions around the world? If so, Laurel Society is for you.

A Friends of the MFA Enthusiast Group devoted to Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art, the Laurel Society gives members greater access to the MFA’s world-famous collection through tours, lectures by world-renowned experts, and visits to private collections and Classical exhibitions.

This past year’s programs included a lecture by distinguished Italian scholar Gianfranco Adornato on the “Power and Pathos” exhibition on ancient Greek bronze sculpture mounted jointly by the J. Paul Getty Museum and the National Gallery of Art; a talk by MFA conservator Susanne Gänsicke on a group of important Roman reed pipes discovered by MFA excavators in Sudan; a preview by Susanne Ebbinghaus of the Harvard Art Museums of her 2018 exhibition focused on animal head vases from diverse cultures and periods, and an intimate look at relevant examples from our collection; and a trip to New York featuring a tour of The Metropolitan Museum’s “Pergamon and the Art of the Hellenistic Kingdoms” by curator Sean Hemingway and a visit to a distinguished private collection.

The MFA’s collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art is one of the most important in the United States. Among its greatest strengths are Greek vases, Greek and Roman coins and gems, and Roman portraiture. We invite to you to join our group of loyal members and dig deeper with us into the rich history of the art of Classical antiquity.

This Enthusiast Group is open to upper-level Museum members (Membership at $750 or more; Museum Council at $600 or more), Patrons, and Benefactors.