Relationship Between the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) and the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH)

Jun 28, 2017

TIMELINE

1976
FAMSF receives an unexpected bequest of over 70 wall mural fragments from the archeological site of Teotihuacan from the estate of Harald Wagner.

1981
After years of negotiations with the Government of Mexico and the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), FAMSF signs an unprecedented Join Agreement stipulating collaborative conservation efforts and the return of at least half of the mural fragments to Mexico.

1983-84
FAMSF contributes funding to an archeological survey of Teotihuacan, which determines most of the mural fragments came from a compound in the northeastern part of the city called Techinantitla. It is the first archeological excavation to be financially supported by FAMSF.

1984-85
Visitors to the de Young Museum witness Mexican and U.S. conservators working together to restore the mural fragments in a visible, working lab.

1986
Over two-thirds of the Wagner murals are repatriated to Mexico, and presented in an exhibition organized by INAH at the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City entitled, Recuperación de Frescos Teotihuacanos.

1993
Following the successful collaboration on the conservation of the murals, FAMSF develops Teotihuacan: Art from the City of the Gods, presented at the de Young and including major loans from the Museo Nacional de Antropología and the Zona de Monumentos Arqueológicos de Teotihuacán.

2002-03
FAMSF loans over 300 African artworks to Mexico for an exhibition, África: Colección de los Museos de Bellas Artes de San Francisco, at the Museo Nacional de Antropología.

2004-05
Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya is presented at the Legion of Honor. FAMSF loans a special exhibition, Acentos Americanos: Obras Maestras de los Museos de San Francisco, to the Museo Amparo in Puebla. FAMSF loan works by Henry Moore for an exhibition at the Museo de Antropología de Xalapa.

2005-07
The Museo de Antropología de Xalapa lends San Lorenzo Monument 4, an Olmec colossal head, for the opening of the new de Young Museum.

2010
FAMSF loans 15 works of Oceanic art to the Museo Nacional de Antropología for an exhibition titled Moana: Culturas de las Islas del Pacifico.

2010-11
Olmec: Colossal Masterworks of Ancient Mexico, with major loans from the Museo Nacional de Antropología and the Museo de Antropología de Xalapa, is presented at the de Young and at LACMA.

2017
FAMSF collaborates with INAH and LACMA to organize Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire.