Collections & Research Staff
Paul Denis
Assistant Curator
Greek, Etruscan, Roman & Byzantine
B.A., History, Loyola College, Montreal, 1974
B.A., Art History, McGill University, Montreal, 1976
M.A., Art History, University of Toronto, 1978
Paul Denis has worked at the ROM in the Greek and Roman section since 1981. Originally interested in Greek sculpture, during the last 20 years he has broadened his scope to include most aspects of Greek, Etruscan, Roman and Byzantine art and culture. Generally, his work focuses on the associated research and preparation of objects for permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions; the acquisition of artifacts for the collections; and fundraising for galleries, exhibitions and acquisitions.
Paul has curatored such exhibitions as, Gift of the Gods: The Art of Wine Revelry (2001), and is currently the curator responsible for the Renaissance ROM galleries—the Eaton Gallery of Rome, the Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Gallery of the Eastern Roman Empire, and the Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Gallery of Byzantium (opening in 2008). These galleries will highlight pieces from Canada’s most important collection of Greek, Ertuscan, Roman, Bronze Age European and Byzantine art. Collections of particular merit are: Greek vases, marble sculpture and terracotta figurines; Roman marble portraits; and Byzantine decorative arts and mosaics. After the completion of the new galleries, Paul will be focusing on Fakes, Frauds and Forgeries, an exhibition examining the art of fakery, from works of art to fossils, and from how BRE-X Gold salted their core samples to counterfeit Duracell batteries and Gucci watches.
Paul’s current research is on the depiction of a wedding scene preserved on a fragmentary red-figure lebes gamikos (wedding vase) in the ROM’s Diniacopoulous Collection. The vase dates to about 425 BC and is attributed to the Washing Painter, an Attic vase painter who specialized in nuptial scenes.
Like many other curators, Paul works closely with consulate and embassy staff, especially the Consulate Generals of Greece and Cyprus, on exhibitions and related cultural events.
Recent Publications
| 2004 | Denis, P. “Foreign Exchanges.” Rotunda 36(2): 38-44. |
| 2001 | Denis, P. Gift of the Gods: The Art of Wine and Revelry. Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum. |
| 2000 | Denis, P. “A Toast to Greece’s Original Vintner.” Rotunda 33(1): 38-42. |
| 1999 | Denis, P. “Statue of Diana.” In Louise Hawley Stone: A Life and Legacy. Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum, pp. 18-19. |
Publications List (PDF)
GalleriesThe A.G. Leventis Foundation Gallery of Ancient Cyprus
Gallery of the Bronze Age Aegean
Gallery of Greece
ROM Images
The Greek World
The Roman World
Byzantium
Early Italic & Etruscan
Podcasts
Opening of Fakes and Forgeries: Yesterday and Today - January 08, 2010
At the opening of Fakes and Forgeries: Yesterday and Today, Dan Rahimi, Vice President, Gallery Development, introduces this interactive, new ROM exhibition that challenges visitors to find the fakes.
Video Podcast (10MB, 2mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)
Contact Information
Department of World Cultures
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queen's Park
Toronto, ON.
M5S 2C6
Tel.: 416.586.5691
Fax: 416.586.5877
E-mail: worldcultures@rom.on.ca
Paul Denis working in collection storage.
Lebes gamikos or wedding vase, c. 425 BC.
