The day I went to see the two shows reviewed here, I heard the news that the British Empire was getting a nip/tuck when Barbados announced it would henceforth be a republic.

The news item reminded me of a remark one of my college professors made a good many years ago. Empires fall, he said, “Look at the Habsburgs — what do you have but Vienna and the suburbs.” During the 20-minute drive to the Burlington City Arts Gallery, I tried to name as many empires as I could remember — the Roman, Babylonia, Sassanid, Hittite, and so on. I may have been more focused on the snow and road conditions, had I not been anticipating the exhibition “Objects of Empire,” one of the two exhibits on view through February 5.