For centuries, monkeys and apes have fascinated artists from both East and West. The depictions range from serious to humorous, entertaining to thought provoking. On this 150th anniversary year of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species come explore simian symbolism through the ages. Highlights of this exhibition include an ancient Egyptian canopic jar lid that depicts Hapi the baboon headed god; a medieval manuscript with a blue winged monkey trying to imitate the birds in the border; a cut glass Libbey pitcher with engraved social commentary on Darwin; and a mischievous monkey created by Picasso as an illustration for the writings of Comte de Buffon, an eighteenth century French naturalist who influenced Darwin.

@ Toledo Museum of Art (via)