While most aspects of the art and culture of China, Japan, and India have been extensively studied, less research exists on the cultural contributions of Southeast Asia. The Kingdom of Siam, organized by the Asian Art Museum in conjunction with the National Museums of Thailand, sheds light on a one of the region’s greatest, but least known, cultures, that of Ayutthaya (1351–1767, an era equivalent to the period from the Black Death almost to the French Revolution in Europe). Today, only a few artworks and buildings (in ruins or heavily restored) survive, pointing to the challenges that have faced scholars in trying to piece together the story of the Ayutthaya period. The Kingdom of Siam will provide visitors with the unique opportunity to see some of the finest surviving artworks of this enigmatic culture.

INTRODUCTION | REVIEW