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Liberale da Verona (Liberale di Jacomo, Italian, 1445–1527/29), The Chess Players (detail); tempera onwood, 13 3/4 x 16 1/4 in; Bequest of Maitland F. Griggs, 1943 (43.98.8)

Chess was probably created in India in the sixth century A.D.,when it started as a game called chaturanga. Based on anancient battle formation, four people played using thirty-twopieces that represented two opposing armies. The game of chess spread from India to several countries, includingPersia (modern-day Iran), where it was called shatranj.

The European version of chess was developed by the twelfthcentury, by which time the bishop and the queen had replacedthe elephant corps and the vizier (or general) of the ancientIndian game.

Modern chess is played by two people. The object of the gameis to capture your opponent’s king. An attack on the king iscalled a “check.” When the king cannot escape, this is knownas a “checkmate.” The player who captures his or her opponent’s king first wins.

A Global Game

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The Art of Chess

Get on Board!What games do you like to play? Some games are popular for a few months and then disappear, only to be replaced by the next new fad. But certain games, like chess, have fascinated people so much that they have been around forhundreds or even thousands of years. People play chess allover the world—maybe you play it yourself. Playing chessrequires strategy and concentration, and can be very exciting.

In this issue of museumkids, you will see how chess hasinspired artists from different times and cultures to createbeautiful works of art. We’ll take a look at just a few pieces in the Museum—an individual chess piece, a complete chessset, a painting of chess players, and a chess table.

If you need help finding any of theobjects featured in this issue when youare in the Museum, look at a floor plan(available at the Information Desks) orask a security guard for directions.

You can look at the objects in any order,so start anywhere in the Metropolitan.

Please remember that galleries maysometimes be closed and that objects arenot always on view.

This queen belongs to the Wedgwoodchess set mentioned in this issue. If

you visit the Museum, see if you can find it.

Piece from a set made from a 1793 design for Wedgwoodby John Flaxman (1755–1826); Josiah Wedgwood andSons, Staffordshire, Etruria, 19th century; Gift of

Gustavus A. Pfeiffer, 1948 (53.71.84a–p, aa–pp)