The Renaissance Gallery

The treasures of Renaissance art in The National Museum - Sultanate of Oman

In 1970, guided by the unifying vision of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who reigned for almost 50 years, Oman made a dramatic shift to a new era of peaceful, purposeful modern development. This period is known as the "Renaissance". This remarkable era has seen the establishment of modern state institutions and inte gral infrastructure, the enhancement of national security, the introduction of modern systems of law to protect human rights and ensure equal opportunity for all Omani people, and the building of strong foreign relations. Characterised by a deepening and strengthening of national unity and identity, and an abiding belief in the generous mission of Islam, the Renaissance era has been one of the most influential epochs Omani history. The Renaissance Gallery commemorates the Renaissance era together with other key elements of Oman's history under the al-Busaid dynasty, and onto Oman's Revived Renaissance under His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. Located in the heart of Muscat, The National Museum is the Oman's flagship cultural institution, showcasing the Sultanate's cultural heritage from the earliest evidence of human settlement in the Oman Peninsula through to the present day. The total area of the building is 13,700 sq m, including 4,000 square metres for 14 permanent galleries, each covering a different aspect of Oman's cultural heritage.