Having started a theater/theatre topic today, why not start a museum topic as well.
As an art lover and sometime traveler, I try to take in as many museums as I can. Traveling through the US, I've seen quite a few of the best-known museums in cities like Boston, Philadelphia, DC, Chicago, and San Francisco. In Europe, I've been to the Louvre and d'Orsay in Paris, the National Gallery and British Museum in London, the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Uffizi in Florence, the Kunsthistoriches Museum in Vienna, and other collections I can't recall the exact names of in Munich, Berlin, Brussels, Rome, Venice, possibly more.
But being an unashamedly chauvinistic New Yorker, my most frequent museum experiences are with the city's often magnificent collections - the Museum of Modern Art, Guggenheim, Frick, Rubin, Jewish Museum, Whitney, Neue Galerie, Brooklyn Museum, and above all my home-away-from-home the Met, whose main building is gigantic in itself but also comprises two subsidiary branches including the beautiful Cloisters in upper Manhattan where you don't feel you're in the city at all. Some consider the Met to be the greatest single museum in the Western Hemisphere, and while comparisons may be odorous, I still feel after 50 years of visiting the place that I haven't exhausted it - for in addition to the permanent collection there are dozens of special exhibitions small and large each year. It's generally said that you can't see the whole place in one visit, which is why I recently told a first-time visitor here that I would give him an 8-hour tour and do just that. We managed to see about 90% of what I had planned (partly because some galleries were closed), and if any GMGer wants to visit New York and repeat the experience, I make a standing offer.
Museums I especially want to see? The Hermitage in St. Petersburg. The Getty in Los Angeles. The Gulbekian in Lisbon. The Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain.
How about you?
Not as many as you, but quite a few. Best: Borghese Gallery, Rome. By appointment only, limited crowd, two hour viewing.
Victoria and Albert - I worked in London for a little while when I was a young man and was taken to visit the V&A by a girl I met. It was an afternoon which increased the size of my world.
Egyptian Museum in Cairo - the sense of age, of time, almost overwhelming.
Quote from: Ken B on June 27, 2016, 02:06:32 PM
Not as many as you, but quite a few. Best: Borghese Gallery, Rome. By appointment only, limited crowd, two hour viewing.
Didn't get to that one, but I have seen the Vatican Museums including that big thing on the ceiling.
After spending four hours there one morning including 40 minutes with the Michelangelos, I remember they closed the Chapel about 1pm, and as I was leaving a Spanish family came up to me excitedly asking, "Capella Sistina? Capella Sistina?" I pointed them in the direction and said, "RUN!" I truly hope, but doubt, that they made it.
I will tout two museums more or less local to me
The Norton in West Palm Beach
http://www.norton.org
The Perez in downtown Miami
http://pamm.org
The Norton is rather general but with fine collections of European art and Chinese art.
The Perez is distinctly modern. Make sure you are wearing your 21st century aesthetic if you ever visit.
Out of town
Boston MFA
Florence: the Medici Chapel
I have been to a couple of the big Italian museums but there were too many other tourists doing the tourist thing to let me have a proper view of anything
Except,(in the Sistine ), the Last Judgment.
Almost forgot
The best little museum you never heard of
https://m.facebook.com/White-Oak-Civil-War-Museum-327383247340436
The official website seems to have been taken down.
The holdings are Civil War stuff all collected by one local resident.
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on June 27, 2016, 07:16:08 PM
Out of town
Boston MFA
Florence: the Medici Chapel
I have been to a couple of the big Italian museums but there were too many other tourists doing the tourist thing to let me have a proper view of anything
Except,(in the Sistine ), the Last Judgment.
I was able to snag a bit of that as a souvenir.
A few of my highlights:
Vatican Museum (Rome)
Hermitage (St. Petersburg, Russia)
Russian Museum (St. Petersburg, Russia)
Zoological Museum (St. Petersburg, Russia)
Museum of Wooden Architecture (Veliky Novgorod, Russia)
British Museum (London)
National Gallery (London)
National Gallery (Oslo)
Viking Ship Museum (Oslo)
Neues Museum (Berlin)
Altes Museum (Berlin)
Gemäldgallerie (Berlin)
Pergamon Museum (Berlin)
Gemäldgallerie (Dresden)
J.S. Bach Museum (Leipzig)
Air and Space/Smithsonian (Washington D.C.)
Museum of the American Indian/Smithsonian (Washington D.C.)
National Gallery of Art (Washington D.C.)
Exploratorium (San Francisco)
SFMOMA (San Francisco)
SFO Museum (San Francisco)
De Young Museum (San Francisco)
Norton Simon (Pasadena, CA).
Huntington Library/Art Museum/Gardens (San Marino, CA)
Getty Museum (Hell A)
Seattle Art Museum (Seattle)
Mud Island (Memphis, TN)
Vancouver Art Gallery (Vancouver, BC)
Guggenheim (New York)
Still have to make it to the Louvre, Prado, Field Museum (Chicago), Udvar-Hazy, etc., etc.,
I just saw a beautiful Modigliani exhibit at Lille Art Museum. One of my sister is actually its director. I also saw a Frits Thaulow (Norwegian painter) exhibit at the Caen art museum. There was also an impressive exhibit of pieces found in the the submarine searches off Alexandria (Egypt) with some of Cairo museum scultures at the Arab museum in Paris.
This summer I'll visit the Krakow National art museum and the Chopin museum while in Poland. I'll end my holidays in Budapest where I'll visit the Beau Art museum.
There are very few museums I havnt visited.
The only big one I would really like to visit is the Hermitage.
Have been to:
- most well known musems in Berlin, usually several times, Munich, Dresden, Cologne, Basel,... probably Prague (too long ago, don't remember the details) and several smaller German cities.
- Unterlinden, Colmar ("Mathis der Maler" Grünewald's altar piece)
- Louvre, Musée d'Orsay (both about twice)
- Uffici, Florence
- Greek National Museum, Athens
- National Gallery?, London
- Metropolitan (I think, it was one of the big ones.. but almost 20 years ago) in NYC
want to see sometime
Vatican
British museum
Ermitage
Prado
A few of my favorite smaller/less-travelled museums:
London: Sir John Soane's Museum (which was actually his house), Wallace Collection
New York: Frick (a favorite), Pierpont Morgan Library (a surprise for me, having walked past it to work for years, in a past life)
Rome: Now the Borghese is a treat, but to see Bernini under less pressure, you can go elsewhere to find some gems - for example, the Ecstasy of Saint Theresa at the Santa Maria della Vittoria
Paris: Cluny Museum (great for tapestries and medieval stuff)
it's hard to even remember everything. Loved the Da Vinci museum/house in Amboise. That was an unexpected treat. But there are tons of smaller museums in smaller locales all over the world. Thinking of places like the Norman Rockwell Museum. And then there are places like Colonial Williamsburg, which are living museums of sorts...
Quote from: mc ukrneal on June 27, 2016, 11:58:45 PM
A few of my favorite smaller/less-travelled museums
In Rome all the (small) french places are great: by order of preference
1-Eglise St Louis les francais. Not a museum, but as good as Borghese villa already mentionned.
2-Palais Farnese (the french ambassy)
3-Villa Medicis (The musician heaven)
"Small" Paris museum: Marmottan, Picasso. Two other great places: Guimet museum and "Art premier", quai Branly.
Been to most of the London ones, the Louvre, Anne Frank Museum etc in Amsterdam. Been to the Hermitage twice (brilliant) plus the ones in Florence. Would like to visit Museum of Modern art in New York but have never been to the USA :(
Home of Sibelius and Mannerheim Museum in Finland - both great.
Outside Romania:
Louvre, Paris
Quay d'Orsay, Paris
Prado, Madrid
Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid
Reina Sofia, Madrid
Rijksmueum, Amsterdam
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Vatican Museum, Rome
Museo Correr, Venice
Galleria dell'Accademia, Venice
Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice
The Doge's Palace, Venice
Delphi Museum, Delphi, Greece
Dozens of cathedrals, churches, castles and palaces in France, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Greece and Turkey.
Quote from: Spineur on June 28, 2016, 12:56:13 AM
In Rome all the (small) french places are great: by order of preference
1-Eglise St Louis les francais. Not a museum, but as good as Borghese villa already mentionned.
2-Palais Farnese (the french ambassy)
3-Villa Medicis (The musician heaven)
"Small" Paris museum: Marmottan, Picasso. Two other great places: Guimet museum and "Art premier", quai Branly.
Soane's is very cool.
I'm especially enjoying the comments on lesser-known and interesting/eccentric museums from around the world. In that spirit, I'll quickly toss off the names of a few famous museums I've seen (Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Tate Modern, National Gallery, British Museum, the Met) and proceed to a few more obscure/unusual places:
- The
Musée Tinguely (Basel, Switzerland). Maybe the most childlike glee I've felt at a museum. It's dedicated entirely to the kinetic sculptures of Jean Tinguely, who made "perpetual motion machines" and chaotic creations with imagination and sheer silliness. He's maybe most famous for the Stravinsky fountains in front of the Pompidou, Paris. The museum has bold colorful sketches, plus all sorts of crazy contraptions, like a massive sculpture which, when you stomp on a big red button, blares trumpets and bangs on drums. A rotating art installation outside the entrance, on my visit, was a wacky jukebox which played things like the sound of a stomach growling.
-
Sir John Soane's Museum, London, which is starting to look like a GMG favorite! I can only echo Neal:
Quote from: mc ukrneal on June 27, 2016, 11:58:45 PM
London: Sir John Soane's Museum (which was actually his house), Wallace Collection
(The Wallace Collection is very nice too.) The Soane's is a must for its ingenious Hogarth room and for walking through the creepy basement, with its Egyptian sarcophagi, by candlelight.
-
The Kimbell (Fort Worth, Texas). The Kimbell Collection is funded by a substantial endowment, but has almost no space, with essentially just three small galleries. The result is a hyper-concentrated collection of western masterworks, from teenage Michelangelo's first painting to just one well-selected piece each by the likes of Velazquez, El Greco, Monet, Van Gogh, Mondrian, and Picasso. Also, it's free.
- The
Musée Rodin, Paris. Ahh, Rodin. I went to the Louvre on a late night and even got to see Mona Lisa without the crowds; I went to Orsay and Pompidou; but the Musée Rodin is going to be my top Parisian pick, both for the great sculptures and the beautiful setting. Also, for being slightly off the beaten track.
- The
Mosaic Museum, Istanbul. There are these little signs between the Hagia Sophia and the Sultan Ahmet (Blue) Mosque, the kind of signs that people put on their lawn for garage sales. They say "Mosaic Museum." It looks like a dumb tourist trap - the kind of sign that might point you to a seedy bar. Except that the mosaic museum preserves truly enormous mosaics from the floors of Byzantine palaces - indeed, you're basically walking on a catwalk over the archaeological site itself. Istanbul's most underrated stop, and an essential companion to the great mosques. Ignore the sign at your peril.
- Also tons of fun: the
Musical Instruments Museum, Brussels, the
Vasa Museum, Stockholm (a massive 1600s warship, preserved nearly perfectly and housed in an architectural marvel),
No. 1 Royal Crescent, Bath, England (a well-preserved Georgian townhouse with phenomenal tour guides), the
Luce Center in Washington, DC, which is the Smithsonian's browsable, sort-through-able storage area for overflow art, and that fabulous/cheeky Houston landmark, the
Beer Can House, which is completely covered in beer cans.
Despite living in San Antonio, TX, for three years, I have sadly never been to the Toilet Seat Art Museum (https://www.facebook.com/SATXTSAM/).
Quote from: (poco) Sforzando on June 27, 2016, 02:02:00 PM
It's generally said that you can't see the whole place in one visit, which is why I recently told a first-time visitor here that I would give him an 8-hour tour and do just that. We managed to see about 90% of what I had planned (partly because some galleries were closed), and if any GMGer wants to visit New York and repeat the experience, I make a standing offer.
If any GMGer wants to take up this offer, the aforementioned first-time visitor is happy to provide (p) Sfz with a recommendation/endorsement!
Quote from: Brian on June 28, 2016, 08:06:41 AM
- The Musée Tinguely (Basel, Switzerland). Maybe the most childlike glee I've felt at a museum. It's dedicated entirely to the kinetic sculptures of Jean Tinguely, who made "perpetual motion machines" and chaotic creations with imagination and sheer silliness. He's maybe most famous for the Stravinsky fountains in front of the Pompidou, Paris. The museum has bold colorful sketches, plus all sorts of crazy contraptions, like a massive sculpture which, when you stomp on a big red button, blares trumpets and bangs on drums. A rotating art installation outside the entrance, on my visit, was a wacky jukebox which played things like the sound of a stomach growling.
I'm so sorry I missed this, as I was in Basel during my one trip to Switzerland but it was pouring rain and I couldn't find the place. Hopefully there will be a next time. I have seen the fountains outside the Pompidou, another great collection in Paris.
Quote from: Brian on June 28, 2016, 08:06:41 AM
I'm especially enjoying the comments on lesser-known and interesting/eccentric museums from around the world. In that spirit, I'll quickly toss off the names of a few famous museums I've seen (Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Tate Modern, National Gallery, British Museum, the Met) and proceed to a few more obscure/unusual places:
- The Musée Tinguely (Basel, Switzerland). Maybe the most childlike glee I've felt at a museum. It's dedicated entirely to the kinetic sculptures of Jean Tinguely, who made "perpetual motion machines" and chaotic creations with imagination and sheer silliness. He's maybe most famous for the Stravinsky fountains in front of the Pompidou, Paris. The museum has bold colorful sketches, plus all sorts of crazy contraptions, like a massive sculpture which, when you stomp on a big red button, blares trumpets and bangs on drums. A rotating art installation outside the entrance, on my visit, was a wacky jukebox which played things like the sound of a stomach growling.
Yeah, this is very different. There are also few sculptures that show a "darker" side, like the ones with material from the burned out barn (my sister actually used to work there as a part-time/side job... so I really should have mentioned it).
Quote from: Brian on June 28, 2016, 08:06:41 AM
... proceed to a few more obscure/unusual places:
- The Musée Tinguely (Basel, Switzerland).
In Switzerland, you can also check the "Fondation Gianadda" (http://www.gianadda.ch/) in Martigny.
Quote from: Brian on June 28, 2016, 08:06:41 AM
- The Musée Rodin, Paris. Ahh, Rodin.
Not a bad place, but I dont go back there that often. In the same style, I prefer the "Fondation Maeght" (http://www.fondation-maeght.com/) just above St Paul de Vence. The garden overlooking the Mediterranean sea and Nice in the distance are breathtaking.
Quote from: Brian on June 28, 2016, 08:06:41 AM
Despite living in San Antonio, TX, for three years...
In Texas, you have also the Rothko museum&chapel. I liked it a lot.
Quote from: NikF on June 27, 2016, 02:25:13 PMEgyptian Museum in Cairo - the sense of age, of time, almost overwhelming.
The last time I saw it, in 2003, they were planning (building, I think) a new one. But the 'old' one was indeed as you describe: an almost Victorian time capsule.
Quote from: vandermolen on June 28, 2016, 01:57:34 AMHome of Sibelius and Mannerheim Museum in Finland - both great.
Agreed. :)
If you are ever in SoCal for any reason, I feel deeply sorry for you. However, all is not lost. Amid the horror of this sprawling, hot, ugly(!), horribly polluted, overcrowded, overpriced, boring, dangerous, urban hellscape with the worst traffic in North America, an epic homeless problem, riots, fires, mudslides, etc., there is a little oasis of culture and beauty--Pasadena!
One of my favorite museums--which we visit at least a couple times a year--is the Norton Simon. It is a relatively small museum, and can be seen easily in one day. However, they have a very nice collection of Impressionists, Dutch Masters, and some earlier works. The collection includes a few wonderful Van Goghs, as well as Monet, Degas, Rembrandt, Rafael, Kandinsky, Picasso, Braque, Zurbaran, etc. They also have a famous collection of Asian art from ancient to modern times--including a number of interesting sculptures. The outdoor sculpture garden has examples from Moore, Brancusi, et al.
http://www.nortonsimon.org
There is also this: http://www.huntington.org
and this: http://www.pacificasiamuseum.org
and this: http://www.thebunnymuseum.com
I have just returned from the business trip to New York and with little time that I had I still had managed to visit Museum of Modern Art that was running a very interesting exhibition of DADA art and also the Metropolitan, mostly to view the American abstract expressionists and Van Gogh. Maybe I should post some photos.
Whenever I visit Moscow I always go to Pushkin's Museum, specifically the part of the museum with the European and American art. Their collection is not very big, but the presented pieces are all amazing, especially impressionists.
Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow is great for Russian art, but it is very big and I rarely want to go there as opposed to the Pushkin's.
I'd love to visit more museums in the US, especially those devoted to abstract expressionists, like the Clyfford Still museum.
I was fortunate to be invited for the evening innauguration of the new exhibit "Hodler, Monet, Munch" at the Marmottan-Monet museum in Paris.
Hodler painted mostly mountains, and this painter did not "knock my socks off".
The Monet part comes mostly from the vast museum collection, which is probably the best woldwide.
The most interesting part of the exhibit was Munch, with paintings which I had never seen before. Stylistically, I found the paintings with more structure than his most famous works. I spent an inspiring time there....
http://www.marmottan.fr/fr/exposition_%C3%A0_venir-musee-2590 (http://www.marmottan.fr/fr/exposition_%C3%A0_venir-musee-2590)
(http://www.marmottan.fr/upload/images/hodlerr%202.jpg_tmp.jpg)
I´ve travelled Europe extensively for probably around 3.5 years totally of my life, at times writing a long series of articles about local cultural history for a very small magazine here, and I tend to visit the usual bunch of "must-see" sights + lesser known, unusual attractions, when visiting a place.
On top of my head, as for composer´s and musician´s museums, I´ve visited those of
- Elgar, near Worcester
- Szymanowski, in Zakopane
- Bartok, in Budapest
- Liszt, in Budapest
- Liszt, in Weimar
- Smetana, in Prague
- Smetana in Litomysl
- Dvorak, in Prague
- Jezek, in Prague
- Valen, in Valevåg
- Grieg, in Bergen
- Sæverud, Bergen (only from the outside)
- Ole Bull, Lysøen near Bergen
- Lyudkevich, Lviv, Ukraine
- Krushelnytska, Lviv
- Kosenko, Kiev, Ukraine
- Ravel, Montfort, near Paris
- Chopin, Mallorca
- Ciurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania
- de Falla, Granada
- Martinu I-II, Policka
Those of Ole Bull, Grieg, Ravel and Chopin are very charming environments in particular, Ole Bull´s is that of a fairy tale come true.
There are however dozens of other, similar museums. Janacek´s in Brno is one of those I´d like to see soon.
I once played with the thought of publishing a book on that subject, but it´s already been done, though it doesn´t contain an actually complete list of such museums.
Quote from: Turner on September 11, 2016, 05:29:45 AM
I´ve travelled Europe extensively for probably around 3.5 years totally of my life, at times writing a long series of articles about local cultural history for a very small magazine here, and I tend to visit the usual bunch of "must-see" sights + lesser known, unusual attractions, when visiting a place.
On top of my head, as for composer´s and musician´s museums, I´ve visited those of
Absolutely great list, no doubt the outcome of impressive cross-European journeys. It helps me to realize, suddenly, that over the years I myself also saw, out of your list:
- Smetana, in Prague
- Dvorak, in Prague
- Lyudkevich, Lviv, Ukraine [!]
- Ciurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania
- de Falla, Granada
- Janacek, Brno ("There are however dozens of other, similar museums. Janacek´s in Brno is one of those I´d like to see soon.")
And some more, like:
- Tchaikovsky, in Votkinsk (Udmurtia, Volga region)
- Rimsky-Korsakov, in Saint Petersburg
- Ciurlionis, in Vilnius
- Ciurlionis, in Druskininkai
- Enescu, in Bucharest
- Puccini, in Lucca
- Hummel, in Bratislava
- Röntgen, in Bilthoven
Quote from: Christo on September 12, 2016, 02:45:31 PM
Absolutely great list, no doubt the outcome of impressive cross-European journeys. It helps me to realize, suddenly, that over the years I myself also saw, out of your list:
- Smetana, in Prague
- Dvorak, in Prague
- Lyudkevich, Lviv, Ukraine [!]
- Ciurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania
- de Falla, Granada
- Janacek, Brno ("There are however dozens of other, similar museums. Janacek´s in Brno is one of those I´d like to see soon.")
And some more, like:
- Tchaikovsky, in Votkinsk (Udmurtia, Volga region)
- Rimsky-Korsakov, in Saint Petersburg
- Ciurlionis, in Vilnius
- Ciurlionis, in Druskininkai
- Enescu, in Bucharest
- Puccini, in Lucca
- Hummel, in Bratislava
- Röntgen, in Bilthoven
Interesting, some of those I haven´t heard of (Hummel, Röntgen).
Concerning the Lyudkevich museum in Lviv - was it a visit accompanied by the very old lady there, his former assistant, as fas as I remember? For me, it was roughly 5 years ago, at first she kept the doors closed and it was certainly not so easy to get into that place, until staff of the Krushelnytska museum facilitated it. I then brought a gift to that lady, and a staff member of the other museum would translate her guided tour.
Quote from: Christo on September 12, 2016, 02:45:31 PM
- Enescu, in Bucharest
That´s great, an architectural and interior design jewel, but you should know that it´s somehow artificial as an "Enescu memorial museum" because he actually dwelled there very little, only in 1945-46 and not in the main building (first photo below) but in a smaller one behind it (second photo below). The whole complex of building was actually the property of his wife who in her turn inherited it from his former husband, son of one of Romania´s wealthiest men of the time.
(http://www.georgeenescu.ro/images/palatul-cantacuzino.jpg) (http://www.georgeenescu.ro/images/casa-memoriala-ge-bucuresti.jpg)
There are three more Enescu museums in Romania and they are places where he actually lived longer and cherished more.
First, the place where it all began, the house in Liveni, Botoșani County, where he was born in 1881 and where he spent his childhood and teenage.
(http://www.gazetabt.ro/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Casa-memoriala-George-Enescu-Liveni-01-480x360.jpg)
Second, the house in Dorohoi, Botoșani County where his parents lived from 1910 on and where he came often for rest and composition.
(http://www.dorohoinews.ro/app/gethumbDetails.php?id=29714&w=1500&h=1500)
Third, Vila Luminiş (the Glade Villa) in Sinaia, Prahova County, built in 1923-26 after his own design where he spent a great many part of his mature creative years.
(http://lataifas.ro/lataifas.ro/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Vila_Luminis.jpg)
The most accessible from Bucharest (and probably the most interesting, as it has Enescu´s mark all over the place and everything, from the architecture to the interior design and decoration, as well as the exhibition items, bear the mark of his personality and taste) is the third, some two-hour drive northwards.
Quote from: Turner on September 12, 2016, 07:14:39 PMConcerning the Lyudkevich museum in Lviv - was it a visit accompanied by the very old lady there, his former assistant, as fas as I remember? For me, it was roughly 5 years ago, at first she kept the doors closed and it was certainly not so easy to get into that place, until staff of the Krushelnytska museum facilitated it. I then brought a gift to that lady, and a staff member of the other museum would translate her guided tour.
I was let in by the (then a little less) 'very old lady' back in the Summer of 2000, during my only visit ever to Lviv. I cannot remember in what language we conversed, I guess it must have been a little German. I confess I mistook her for his widow (probably caused by the great 'extra-long-living-widow-of-the-artist' tradition; about every respected British composer except Britten produced one 8)) and remember the house as a real 'time capsule', with everything as he had left it. A memory I'd almost forgotten until your post, because I don't think I ever heard about this composer anymore.
Quote from: Florestan on September 13, 2016, 03:59:09 AM
That´s great, an architectural and interior design jewel, but you should know that it´s somehow artificial as an "Enescu memorial museum" because he actually dwelled there very little, only in 1945-46 and not in the main building (first photo below) but in a smaller one behind it (second photo below). The whole complex of building was actually the property of his wife who in her turn inherited it from his former husband, son of one of Romania´s wealthiest men of the time.
There are three more Enescu museums in Romania and they are places where he actually lived longer and cherished more.
Great post, Andrei; love to see them! :)
Museums I've visited include:
Paris
Le Louvre
Musée d'Orsay
Musée de l'Orangerie
Musée national d'art moderne (Centre Pompidou)
Musée Marmottan Monet
Musée Jacquemart-André
Musée Gustave Moreau
Musée Rodin
Musée du quai Branly
Musée des beaux-arts de la ville de Paris (Petit Palais)
Musée de l'Armée - Tombeau de Napoléon et Église du Dôme
Cité des sciences et de l'industrie
London
British Museum
National Gallery
Tate Modern
Tate Britain
Natural History Museum
Science Museum
New York
Metropolitan Museum
MoMA
Brooklyn Museum
Guggenheim Museum
Museum of Natural History
Vienna
Kunsthistorisches Museum
Albertina
Leopold Museum
MuMOK (Museum moderner Kunst)
Belvedere
MAK (Museum für angewandte Kunst)
Gemäldegalerie der Akademie der bildenden Künste
Kunstforum Wien
Naturhistorisches Museum
Haus der Musik
Mozarthaus
Kaiserliche Schatzkammer
Neue Burg Museums: Ephesos Museum, Sammlung alter Musikinstrumente (Collection of Old Musical Instruments), Hofjagd- und Rüstkammer (Arms and Armour Museum)
Sofia
National Historical Museum
National Archaeological Museum
Earth and People National Mineralogical Museum
National Art Gallery
Museums I'd like to visit: the Hermitage & Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, the Prado, Reina Sofía & Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, the Vatican Museums, the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, several museums in Berlin, Dresden, Cologne, Hamburg, Leipzig, Prague & Copenhagen, the Galleria Borghese in Rome, the Uffizi & Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, the Alte & Neue Pinakotheks in Munich, the Scottish National Galleries in Edinburgh, the Picasso & Miró museums in Barcelona, the Nasjonalmuseet in Oslo, the Rijksmuseum, van Gogh Museum & Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the National Gallery in Washington, DC, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Neue Galerie, Frick Collection, Whitney Museum & the Cloisters in New York, the Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, New Zealand, the Museo del Oro in Bogotá... and the list goes on.
Art lovers visiting Athens should strive to visit the following quintet:
Εθνικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο (National Archaeological Museum)
Μουσείο Ακροπόλεως (Acropolis Museum)
Βυζαντινό και Χριστιανικό Μουσείο (Byzantine & Christian Museum)
Μουσείο Μπενάκη (Benaki Museum)
Μουσείο Κυκλαδικής Τέχνης (Museum of Cycladic Art)
Among Athenian museums, other highlights include the Numismatic Museum (housed in the mansion of Heinrich Schliemann, excavator of Troy), the Museum of the City of Athens and the National Historical Museum (housed in the old parliament building). The National Gallery (Εθνική Πινακοθήκη) is currently closed for a complete refurbishment and enlargement of its main building (a small part of the collection is exhibited at an embarrassingly inconvenient art space outside the city centre) and it's scheduled for reopening in 2019.
Other outstanding Greek museums: the Archaeological Museum of Olympia (Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Ολυμπίας), the Delphi Archaeological Μuseum (Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Δελφών), the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in Crete (Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Ηρακλείου) and the Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai (Μουσείο Βασιλικών Τάφων των Αιγών).
Quote from: (poco) Sforzando on June 27, 2016, 02:02:00 PM
Some consider the Met to be the greatest single museum in the Western Hemisphere, and while comparisons may be odorous, I still feel after 50 years of visiting the place that I haven't exhausted it - for in addition to the permanent collection there are dozens of special exhibitions small and large each year. It's generally said that you can't see the whole place in one visit, which is why I recently told a first-time visitor here that I would give him an 8-hour tour and do just that. We managed to see about 90% of what I had planned (partly because some galleries were closed), and if any GMGer wants to visit New York and repeat the experience, I make a standing offer.
Challenge accepted! I'd love to return to this exquisite, gargantuan establishment (with the tiniest/most intimate of Byzantine sections).
On my visit to NY in 2010 I toured the Met extensively (including, I remember, a quite imposing installation on the roof (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/arts/design/04bambu.html)) and managed to see everything, except the Egyptian section. It took the better part of the day, of course, and by the time I realized the omission I was too tired to care.
The Whitney Museum, Neue Galerie, Frick Collection and the Cloisters were also on my visiting plans, but we run out of sightseeing time and by the end of the week we were frankly quite museumed out (the Met's fault mostly). I remember we passed outside the (now former) Whitney building and I only had the slightest inclination to get in. I immensely enjoyed the Rothkos, Pollocks et al. at the MoMA (huge crowds), the Guggenheim was excellent and the Brooklyn Museum was a particular, unexpected favourite. I'd put it on the plans as a quirky outsider: we were staying nearby at Park Slope and I knew it had a well-known Bierstadt, whom I like very much. I saw the Bierstadt all right (as well as this! (https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/184064)) and it turned out that the whole museum, including its extensive modern collection, is brilliant. Very few visitors, it felt like a private tour.
Quote from: Spineur on September 11, 2016, 04:51:53 AM
I was fortunate to be invited for the evening innauguration of the new exhibit "Hodler, Monet, Munch" at the Marmottan-Monet museum in Paris.
Hodler painted mostly mountains, and this painter did not "knock my socks off".
The Monet part comes mostly from the vast museum collection, which is probably the best woldwide.
The most interesting part of the exhibit was Munch, with paintings which I had never seen before. Stylistically, I found the paintings with more structure than his most famous works. I spent an inspiring time there....
http://www.marmottan.fr/fr/exposition_%C3%A0_venir-musee-2590 (http://www.marmottan.fr/fr/exposition_%C3%A0_venir-musee-2590)
(http://www.marmottan.fr/upload/images/hodlerr%202.jpg_tmp.jpg)
Thanks for the review! I visited le musée when
L'art et l'enfant exhibition was running earlier in the year, which (exhibition) I found very interesting. I did manage to miss the museum's most famous painting, Monet's
"Impression, soleil levant". It certainly wasn't in the basement with the other Monets when I visited. Had it been taken down for restoration? Was it on loan to another exhibition? Do they even loan their most famous painting? I'm thinking the only way I may have missed it is if it was (hiding?) in one of the ground floor rooms, which I may have wandered a little more carelessly - but then I did the rounds of both the ground floor and the basement looking for it. A mystery. Apart from this mishap (an incentive to return, if anything else) I loved the museum, especially the - a prime reason for visiting - superb Morisot collection. Her portrait of Manet on the Isle of Wight is one of my favourite paintings ever.
Their next exhibit on Pissarro (http://www.marmottan.fr/fr/exposition_%C3%A0_venir-musee-2590) sounds positively thrilling. I may be able to attend that, fingers crossed.
Quote from: Florestan on September 13, 2016, 03:59:09 AM
That´s great, an architectural and interior design jewel, but you should know that it´s somehow artificial as an "Enescu memorial museum" because he actually dwelled there very little, only in 1945-46 and not in the main building (first photo below) but in a smaller one behind it (second photo below). The whole complex of building was actually the property of his wife who in her turn inherited it from his former husband, son of one of Romania´s wealthiest men of the time.
There are three more Enescu museums in Romania and they are places where he actually lived longer and cherished more.
First, the place where it all began, the house in Liveni, Botoșani County, where he was born in 1881 and where he spent his childhood and teenage.
Second, the house in Dorohoi, Botoșani County where his parents lived from 1910 on and where he came often for rest and composition.
Third, Vila Luminiş (the Glade Villa) in Sinaia, Prahova County, built in 1923-26 after his own design where he spent a great many part of his mature creative years.
The most accessible from Bucharest (and probably the most interesting, as it has Enescu´s mark all over the place and everything, from the architecture to the interior design and decoration, as well as the exhibition items, bear the mark of his personality and taste) is the third, some two-hour drive northwards.
Thanks for the write-up,
Andrei! Wishlisted, all.
Quote from: Wanderer on September 14, 2016, 11:33:31 PM
I did manage to miss the museum's most famous painting, Monet's "Impression, soleil levant". It certainly wasn't in the basement with the other Monets when I visited. Had it been taken down for restoration? Was it on loan to another exhibition? Do they even loan their most famous painting? I'm thinking the only way I may have missed it is if it was (hiding?) in one of the ground floor rooms, which I may have wandered a little more careless...
...
Apart from this mishap (an incentive to return, if anything else) I loved the museum, especially the - a prime reason for visiting - superb Morisot collection. Her portrait of Manet on the Isle of Wight is one of my favourite paintings .
They have been doing quite a bit of remodelling of the rooms (basement and second floor). I didnt recall seing the Berthe Morisot collection (which is now on the 2nd floor) at my previous visit. Very nice indeed. The basement has been changed some. I dont know if it is because if the exhibit, but the serie on the japanese bridge with its very warm colors wasnt displayed this time. In this serie the shift towards reds was because Monet had a glocaume at the end of his life and this led him to add much more colors. One of museum ward taught me a new way to look at the waterlilies serie. By looking at grazing incidence, the fog disappears. A real nice impression to see a painting change its aspect as you move around.
Quote from: (poco) Sforzando on June 27, 2016, 02:02:00 PMMuseums I especially want to see? The Hermitage in St. Petersburg. The Getty in Los Angeles. The Gulbekian in Lisbon. The Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain.
If you travel to Russia, I think the Moscow museums will be at least as interesting as St. Petersburg's Hermitage, which has an enormous collection but which is more Pan-European than uniquely Russian.
In Moscow the Tretyakov Gallery contains a much smaller but very interesting collection with a lot of uniquely Russian works. The Kremlin Armoury has a large collection of artifacts associated with the old Czars. And of course the Kremlin features St Basil's, which is even more bizarre inside than out, and the old churches where the Czars worshipped back to the middle ages. While you're in Red Square you can drop in and visit Lenin, who still reposes in his tomb. It's right across from the Ritziest shopping mall you've ever seen, built by Stalin, no less.
Quote from: Scarpia on September 15, 2016, 12:46:24 PMIf you travel to Russia, I think the Moscow museums will be at least as interesting as St. Petersburg's Hermitage, which has an enormous collection but which is more Pan-European than uniquely Russian.
For the same reason, the
Russian Museum in St. Petersburg with Russian painters like the stunning Ilya Repin, is preferable over the
Hermitage with it's huge collection of 'European' art not unlike that of the Louvre, Prado, etc.
Quote from: Spineur on September 15, 2016, 12:26:59 PM
They have been doing quite a bit of remodelling of the rooms (basement and second floor)...
...and it shows. The second floor rooms, particularly the ones where the Berthe Morisot and enluminures collections are exhibited, looked very spiffy. The Monet hall in the basement also looked recently renovated. It was obvious that some paintings were missing from their usual spaces, but, thankfully, the Pont japonais series was there.
Another superb Monet from the Pont japonais series (impressive dark reds, considerably darker hues than most of the others I've seen - from the Larock-Granoff collection) was a part of "
L'atelier en plain air - Les impressionistes en Normandie" exhibition at the Jacquemart-André.
Quote from: Spineur on September 15, 2016, 12:26:59 PM
One of museum ward taught me a new way to look at the waterlilies serie. By looking at grazing incidence, the fog disappears. A real nice impression to see a painting change its aspect as you move around.
Thanks for that. I always observe paintings from different angles anyway (especially the ones that are as much sculptures of paint as they are representations of images) and if I understood what you mean by grazing incidence (looking almost edge-on?), I'll try it next time. Some of the waterlilies indeed look foggy and their aspect changes when you move around. God knows I've observed more than my share of paintings edge-on because of bad lighting/glare (not applicable here, but you know what I mean).
Quote from: Brian on June 28, 2016, 08:06:41 AM
- The Musée Rodin, Paris. Ahh, Rodin. I went to the Louvre on a late night and even got to see Mona Lisa without the crowds; I went to Orsay and Pompidou; but the Musée Rodin is going to be my top Parisian pick, both for the great sculptures and the beautiful setting.
It's a very beautiful museum and the collections are splendid (including some exquisite works by Camille Claudel). Some non-sculpture favourites of mine (which seemed to get no attention): van Gogh's
Portrait du Père Tanguy and a Munch that depicts
le Penseur!
(http://www.musee-rodin.fr/sites/musee/files/resourceSpace/2004oeu_f206b8739f69d04.jpg)
Quote from: NikF on June 27, 2016, 02:25:13 PM
Egyptian Museum in Cairo - the sense of age, of time, almost overwhelming.
It was impressive (went there about 15 years ago) before the looting in 2011.
The paraphernalia of the Pharaohs' tombs, seemed like a lot of furniture in storage.
Fortunately, a lot of the displays were reproductions as many of the originals were in the basement.
A far worse fate descended on the Baghdad Museum in 2003 by looting mobs.
Somehow ancient artifacts better protected in Western museums is more of a consolation, despite claims of "stealing".
Quote from: Scarpia on September 15, 2016, 12:46:24 PM
If you travel to Russia, I think the Moscow museums will be at least as interesting as St. Petersburg's Hermitage, which has an enormous collection but which is more Pan-European than uniquely Russian.
In Moscow the Tretyakov Gallery contains a much smaller but very interesting collection with a lot of uniquely Russian works. The Kremlin Armoury has a large collection of artifacts associated with the old Czars. And of course the Kremlin features St Basil's, which is even more bizarre inside than out, and the old churches where the Czars worshipped back to the middle ages. While you're in Red Square you can drop in and visit Lenin, who still reposes in his tomb. It's right across from the Ritziest shopping mall you've ever seen, built by Stalin, no less.
If one only gets to St. Petersburg, there is of course the Russian Museum, which houses much Russian art. It is especially good if you like paintings of ships and water.
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 16, 2016, 05:03:17 AMIt is especially good if you like paintings of ships and water.
Or forests. ;)
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 16, 2016, 05:03:17 AM
If one only gets to St. Petersburg, there is of course the Russian Museum, which houses much Russian art. It is especially good if you like paintings of ships and water.
I don't know about the Russian museum in st Petersburg, but ships and water is not what I recall from the Tretyakof.
The most striking painting I recall there is Boyarynya Morozova by Vasily Surikov
Quote from: Scarpia on September 16, 2016, 11:16:38 AM
I don't know about the Russian museum in st Petersburg, but ships and water is not what I recall from the Tretyakof.
The most striking painting I recall there is Boyarynya Morozova by Vasily Surikov
I can imagine...
Even looking at it on my computer monitor the realism and expressive power is overwhelming.
Speaking of ships and water maybe in reference to
The Conquest of Siberia by Yermak Timofeyevich.
this one, I assume
(http://www.russianpaintings.net/articleimg/surikov/surikov_boyarynia_morozova_1887.jpg)
The Execution of the Streltsi is more potent for me. Not sure which museum it is in.
(http://www.russianpaintings.net/articleimg/surikov/surikov_streltsy_1881.jpg)
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on September 16, 2016, 11:43:33 AM
this one, I assume
The Execution of the Streltsi is more potent for me. Not sure which museum it is in.
(http://www.russianpaintings.net/articleimg/surikov/surikov_streltsy_1881.jpg)
Wiki says Tretyakov Gallery.
Anyway another great painting...That Peter the Great sure knows how to keep them down doesn't he?
A strong leader!
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on September 16, 2016, 12:08:33 PM
A strong leader!
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Exactly, just what were the Streltsi thinking? Sometimes you just f*cked with the wrong Tsar.
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on September 16, 2016, 12:08:33 PM
A strong leader!
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
He sure wouldn't have let any Mexicans in!
Quote from: The new erato on September 16, 2016, 01:20:06 PM
He sure wouldn't have let any Mexicans in!
Yes, he makes Putin look like Mother Theresa by comparison.
For Parisians and visitors to Paris: a new exhibition on Magritte begins today at the Centre Pompidou: René Magritte: La trahison des images (https://www.centrepompidou.fr/cpv/resource/c65EMjd/rdKAxj8) (21 September 2016 - 23 January 2017).
From Oct 22nd 2016 to Feb. 20 2017, Sergei Sbchukin collection at the Louis Vuitton Foundation (a beautiful new building overlooking the bois de Boulogne).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Shchukin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Shchukin)
Sergei Sbchukin, a textile russian buissnesman, build the most extraordinary collection of impressionist and moderns just before WWI. His and Morosov collections were confiscated at the revolution and dispersed to a number of russian museums by Stalin in 1948. It has been reunited for the first time and will be show at Louis Vuitton foundation
http://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/expositions/icones-de-l-art-moderne.html# (http://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/expositions/icones-de-l-art-moderne.html#)
It is on my agenda for my Nov 19th trip to Paris opera.
Right now we have a much smaller but nice Kandinsky exhibit at the Grenoble museum. IT is devoted to the last period of the artist life (1933-1944)
http://www.grenoble.fr/agenda/19257/38-exposition-kandinsky.-les-annees-parisiennes-1933-1944-.htm (http://www.grenoble.fr/agenda/19257/38-exposition-kandinsky.-les-annees-parisiennes-1933-1944-.htm)
By the way, Shchukin paid this Gauguin 4000 francs in 1907. According to INSEE calculator this is about 16000 today's euros. Not dirt cheap, but about 1/1000 of what it is worth today.
http://www.insee.fr/fr/service/reviser/calcul-pouvoir-achat.asp?sommeDepart=20000&deviseDepart=Euro&anneeDepart=2015&deviseArrivee=AncFranc&anneeArrivee=1907 (http://www.insee.fr/fr/service/reviser/calcul-pouvoir-achat.asp?sommeDepart=20000&deviseDepart=Euro&anneeDepart=2015&deviseArrivee=AncFranc&anneeArrivee=1907)
I went to see Shchukin (Chtchoukine in French) collection a second time as the exhibit was extended to March 7th.
I also saw Frédéric Bazille exhibit at the musée d'Orsay.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Bazille (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Bazille)
http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/events/exhibitions/in-the-musee-dorsay/exhibitions-in-the-musee-dorsay/article/frederic-bazille-44076.html (http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/events/exhibitions/in-the-musee-dorsay/exhibitions-in-the-musee-dorsay/article/frederic-bazille-44076.html)
He was a close friend of Monet, Cézanne and Sisley and lived together in their ealy twenties. He participated to the birth of impressionism. He was incredibly gifted, but died during the Franco prussian war of 1870 at the age of 28. In the seven year of creative life as a painter he achieved a great deal. He also was a big fan of classical music and was a pianist. Had he lived he would have been as well known as his friends. The exhibit was extremely well layed out. Highly recomended, if yo get the opportunity.
(http://www.musee-orsay.fr/typo3temp/zoom/tmp_9073fe19bf04a898215bdddf5c36c356.gif)
Quote from: Scarpia on September 16, 2016, 11:16:38 AM
I don't know about the Russian museum in st Petersburg, but ships and water is not what I recall from the Tretyakof.
The most striking painting I recall there is Boyarynya Morozova by Vasily Surikov
Absolutely fine, as much more there: but the most striking paintings in the Russian Museum for me are in the Repin collection, especially the ones that are too big and cannot be transported (the smaller ones are also once in a while on show here in the Netherlands). Like for example the Ceremonial Session of the State Council in 1900:
(http://drawingacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/Ilya-Repin-19.jpg)
Exposition Fantin Latour, born in Grenoble. An exhibit co-produced by Luxembourg museum and Grenoble museum is opening here soon.
http://www.museedegrenoble.fr/1811-a-venir-fantin-latour.htm (http://www.museedegrenoble.fr/1811-a-venir-fantin-latour.htm)
The Plantin - Moretus Museum in Antwerp was closed for almost two years. An extension / depot was built to house the library and offices . It reopened in sept. 2016. More rooms are now open to the public. Fascinating place, wonderful portraits by Rubens. Discover the letter types made by mr. Garamond etc.
The original residence and workshop of the Plantin and Moretus publishing dynasty offers you a unique historical experience, which is why it is a Unesco world heritage site. The building's creaking oak planks and panels seem imbued in the history of books, the art of printing and the story of a family's entrepreneurial flair. The oldest printing presses in the world can be found here, and much more besides...
The Museum Plantin-Moretus presents three hundred years of book-printing art and family history. You can admire the oldest printing presses in the world and a rich collection of art, including portraits by Rubens. In the library, you will find manuscripts, incunabula and original prints. And the archives tell you about daily life in both the printing works and the mansion.
(http://community.dewereldmorgen.be/images/cache/xl/2015/09/30/de-drukkerij.jpg)
Don't miss it when visiting Antwerp!
http://www.museumplantinmoretus.be/en
P.
After a week's work in Cannes (attending the biggest European trade fair of my industry), I was joined by my companion for a long weekend on the Côte d'Azur (taking advantage of the fact that Monday March 20th was a local holiday here in Madrid).
Top on my list of places to visit was the Fondation Maeght in St.-Paul-de-Vence, which I had been to as a teenager almost 40 years ago (!), and which I can only describe as a magical place. Josep Lluis Sert's bulding is very attractive (as is the same architect's Fundación Miró in Barcelona), and is the perfect setting--set among 14 hectares of pine woods--for this entreprising endeavour started by art gallerists Aimé and Marguerite Maeght and inaugurated in 1964.The collection on display is not huge (including a magnificent Bonnard, some Calders, etc.), but what really is stunning are the scuptures and murals in the gardens (by Giacometti, Miró, Braque...). The (large) temporary exhibit was a retrospective of the distinguished German painter A. R. Penck (interesting, but not really my thing--very reminiscent at times of Keith Haring and Basquiat).
The building by Sert:
(https://www.fondation-capca.com/index.php/2020/06/04/restaurer-les-oeuvres-de-joan-miro-de-la-fondation-marguerite-et-aime-maeght/fondation2/)
Georges Braque's mosaic for a pond in an internal patio:
(http://ekladata.com/icLqSfIDj925tAexKY9pz46VwaQ@822x617.jpg)
The Giacometti courtyard:
(https://culturieuse.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/giacometti-bronzeplastiken-01.jpg)
The Miró labyrinth:
(https://www.connaissancedesarts.com/wp-content/thumbnails/uploads/2020/11/labyrinthe-miro-2019-tt-width-768-height-432-fill-1-crop-0-bgcolor-ffffff.webp)
Pierre Bonnard's huge L'Été:
(https://fmaeght.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Pierre-Bonnard-Lete-1917-Huile-sur-toile-260-x-340-cm-min.jpg)
We also visited the Musée Picasso in Antibes, housed in that town's castle. The collection consists mainly of Picasso works from the years 1946 and 1947, sometimes using unusual materials (e.g. asbestos slabs).
The museum:
(http://www.thefrenchway.fr/files/visuel/177201558_Musee%20picasso.jpg)
Picasso's La joie de vivre (one of the highlights of the collection IMHO):
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YKv16LWG72Y/SavIgw8Y6XI/AAAAAAAAANU/zG0GF3JWgXQ/s400/joie+de+vivre.bmp)
But what really drew me to this musuem was that it has on display the painting that has been my avatar here on GMG for the past several months (its painter's last completed work, inspired by a concert of the Domanie Musical). The impact this painting makes, with its monumental size (6 x 3.5 meters), is difficult to describe. It really is impressive.
Nicolas de Staël's Le concert:
(http://img.aws.la-croix.com/2013/07/24/990146/Le-Concert-Le-Grand-Concert-L-Orchestre-Nicolas-Stael-1955-huile-toile-6-3-50_0_730_435.jpg)
Next came the Musée Jean Cocteau - Collection Séverin Wunderman in Menton. I didn't find Rudy Ricciotti's bulding particularly attractive, but the collection gives a good overview of Jean Cocteau's graphic and cinematographic output. Even if Cocteau's art can at moments appear frivolous and aimed exclusively at the fashionable circles of the society of its day, I must admit I have always been rather fond of it (and see his drwaings and his paintings as a sort of prolonged and stylized last expression of the Art Déco style).
The museum:
(https://www.menton.fr/IMG/arton8-resp430-2.jpg)
Part of the permanent display:
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7K7SFW5gpzY/Vc8jwBAVdzI/AAAAAAAAiAc/qzDMwpjz3aU/s1600/museecocteau644_0.jpg)
And last but not least, we had lunch at the mythical La Colombe d'Or (also in St.-Paul-de-Vence, and a place that once again brought back wonderful memories from many yaers ago). The food is unpretentious but very good, but it is the setting that I'd venture to say has few equals in the world: the Roux family (which has owned the place for generations) managed to accumulate a world-class art colection that graces the walls and gardens of this restaurant and hotel. Having lunch in front of the magnificent Léger mural on the open-air terrrace is quite something!
The mural by Fernand Léger:
(http://68.media.tumblr.com/77ffba7a63bb58ac43267df8c6f07c5a/tumblr_o5sda8Ic8Z1u590e5o2_1280.jpg)
The Alexander Calder mobile by the pool:
(http://www.la-colombe-dor.com/LaColombeCarousel/Dinner_Art_01_Calder.jpg)
This time around we missed, among other things, the Matisse and Chagall museums in Nice, and the Chapelle du Rosaire (with stained glass windows by Matisse) in Vence. On some other occasion... ;)
Great stuff, Rafael!
Indeed. I have been to the Maeght foundation a couple of times, and the site is breathtaking. It is some 5-600 m above the sea. It dominates the coastline with the city which can just be seen below.
Vence, its chapel and the St Paul de Vence village are also beautiful, when they are not overrun by tourists. I dont think I have seen this particular Picasso museum nor the Cocteau museum.
1) The centenial Rodin exhibit at the Grand Palais which in addition to scultures had his drawings
below: le fils prodige
aquarelle portraying a woman
A Paul Cezanne exhibit of his portraits at the musée d'Orsay
It is fantastic. If it wasnt for the silly 500k attachment limit I would share many of them with you. So you will have to settle wirh just one
What a pleasure. Good stuff.
We have a few pieces by Rodin displayed at one time in a few of our galleries, but...
(http://i.imgur.com/m7G8ioF.jpg)
'Fallen Angel'
(not my photo)
If it gets noticed, then it's usually only when someone climbs on it in order to take a photo of the aeroplane behind, although I once saw it being used as a seat.
There's a Matisse exhibit at the MFA which I need to get to before it shuts down on 9 July:
http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/matisse-in-the-studio (http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/matisse-in-the-studio)
Quote from: Spineur on June 25, 2017, 10:11:40 AM
1) The centenial Rodin exhibit at the Grand Palais which in addition to scultures had his drawings
below: le fils prodige
aquarelle portraying a woman
Excellent! I attended a fine exhibition of Rodin's sculpture at the Royal Academy in London some years ago.
Quote from: Spineur on June 25, 2017, 10:11:40 AM
1) The centenial Rodin exhibit at the Grand Palais which in addition to scultures had his drawings
below: le fils prodige
aquarelle portraying a woman
I was in Paris for a few days in early April and this is the first thing I visited (well, after a few churches and some pit stops for sustenance). A splendid exhibition, featuring not only Rodin's work, but also works of quite a number of others (Claudel, Bourdelle, Lehmbruck et al.) he worked with or influenced one way or another; quite a number of modern pieces in the last section of the exhibition, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was fearing crowds (I went on a Saturday), but thankfully there were none, five people or less per room during my entire visit. I returned to the Grand Palais later in the week for the Jardins exhibition, in which I recognized a couple of paintings I saw in Vienna the year before.
I also visited the Vermeer and Valentin de Boulogne exhibitions at the Louvre. It seems I chose my time slot wisely and I only waited for 30 minutes to gain entry to Hall Napoléon. Crowds were quite manageable at the Vermeer exhibit and one could find oneself in front of each painting quite easily and stay there for as long as one wished. And I did. There were no crowds at the Valentin de Boulogne exhibition next door; it was equally superbly thought-out and presented. This was my first visit to the Louvre in 17 years and I don't remember the main area under the pyramid being so crowded, noisy and hot. The Pyramid may be pretty to look at, but it works like a hothouse (and, I suspect, an amplifier); the atmosphere in the main concourse (combined with the constant, hellish din of the roaring crowd) was very uncomfortable and not at all inviting.
Another highlight of this trip was visiting the two Pissarro exhibitions at the Marmottan Monet and the Musée du Luxembourg. They were both outstanding. The one at the Musée du Luxembourg, which focused on Pissarro's last period in Éragny, was especially splendid. At the Marmottan Monet, I was there early and the majority of visitors understandably flocked to the Pissarro exhibit, which meant I also had a chance to be alone in the basement with the Monet paintings for an inordinate amount of time before anyone ventured downstairs. Whilst there, I managed to locate Monet's
Impression, soleil levant, the search for which proved so futile last year, and ascertained beyond doubt that it was not on display when I visited in 2016. Whereas all the Monet paintings were there, I noticed that this time it was some of the Morisot works on the upper floor that were missing, including my favourite
Eugène Manet on the Isle of Wight (lent to another institution for a temporary exhibit most likely).
Some distance across the Seine, even if it weren't for the superb (if not vaguely defined) exhibition Au-delà des étoiles, Le paysage mystique de Monet à Kandinsky (http://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/evenements/expositions/au-musee-dorsay/presentation-detaillee/page/1/article/au-dela-des-etoiles-44978.html?S=&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=221&cHash=c19ababa7b&print=1&no_cache=1&), I could not have omitted a visit to the Musée d'Orsay. The exhibition itself held some spectacular works by Monet, Klimt, van Gogh, Strindberg (yes, the playwright), Munch, Jansson and others and the rest of the museum was as splendid as always. And contrary to last year, when they were refurbishing the hall it was in and I could only see it at an uncomfortable angle through glass and reflections, Courbet's
L'Atelier du peintre was now properly displayed in all its glory.
There was a wealth of things to see in the newly refurbished halls of the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris:
Ingres et ses élèves (a selection of very fine sketches by Ingres and his pupils),
D'Antigone à Marianne, Rêves et réalités de la République dans les collections des Beaux-Arts de Paris (which included, among others, a number of quite potent mythologically-themed paintings, Ingres'
Romulus, vainqueur d'Acron among them) and a most impressive film installation by Julian Rosefeldt (Manifesto (http://www.julianrosefeldt.com/film-and-video-works/manifesto-_2014-2015/), with an incandescent Cate Blanchett).
There was, also, the superb
Tokyo-Paris, Chefs-d'œuvre du Bridgestone Museum of Art, Collection Ishibashi Foundation (http://www.musee-orangerie.fr/en/event/tokyo-paris-masterpieces-bridgestone-museum-art-collection-ishibashi-foundation) at the Musée de l'Orangerie. Still on (until 21 August) and very highly recommended.
Quote from: Wanderer on June 26, 2017, 09:23:00 AM
Some distance across the Seine, even if it weren't for the superb (if not vaguely defined) exhibition Au-delà des étoiles, Le paysage mystique de Monet à Kandinsky (http://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/evenements/expositions/au-musee-dorsay/presentation-detaillee/page/1/article/au-dela-des-etoiles-44978.html?S=&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=221&cHash=c19ababa7b&print=1&no_cache=1&), I could not have omitted a visit to the Musée d'Orsay. The exhibition itself held some spectacular works by Monet, Klimt, van Gogh, Strindberg (yes, the playwright), Munch, Jansson and others and the rest of the museum was as splendid as always. And contrary to last year, when they were refurbishing the hall it was in and I could only see it at an uncomfortable angle through glass and reflections, Courbet's L'Atelier du peintre was now properly displayed in all its glory.
I also saw this exhibit
Au-delà des étoiles, Le paysage mystique de Monet à Kandinsky this week end. I thought it was ok, except for a few exceptional pieces. Many painters use nature as inspiration for their inner selves and their own mystic view. But I thought only one could transcend nature into a truely oniric world.
Quote from: Spineur on June 26, 2017, 09:58:52 AM
But I thought only one could transcend nature into a truely oniric world.
So this gave me a very strong Van Gogh envy ! I will use this as an excuse to visit my dad who as a house near Arles. This winter, I will go and see an opera in Amsterdam. Van Gogh, I am coming !!
Quote from: Wanderer on June 26, 2017, 09:23:00 AM
. Whereas all the Monet paintings were there, I noticed that this time it was some of the Morisot works on the upper floor that were missing, including my favourite Eugène Manet on the Isle of Wight (lent to another institution for a temporary exhibit most likely).
Ah ! Berthe Morisot, what an outstanding painter. She reached an extraordinary level, and equaled most of the most famous impressionists. Her paintings can be acquired at auctions and do not reach the stratospheric levels of Renoir or Cézanne.
Quote from: Spineur on June 26, 2017, 10:02:21 AMThis winter, I will go and see an opera in Amsterdam. Van Gogh, I am coming !!
Which one? And BTW: more Van Gogh in the Kröller-Müller Museum (in the midst of a national park): https://krollermuller.nl/en/van-gogh-gallery
Quote from: Spineur on June 26, 2017, 09:58:52 AM
But I thought only one could transcend nature into a truely oniric world.
van Gogh is indeed quite special.
Le semeur from Amsterdam was strikingly evocative (along with his other works on display). I was also very impressed by
Jansson's and
Strindberg's works. Apart from the big names, I was particularly enthralled by a starry night scene by the Scottish painter
Grace Henry. And then, there was the eye-catching
Le château de cristal en mer by
Wenzel Hablik, postcards of which were sought out by several people at the gift shop (in vain).
Quote from: Spineur on June 26, 2017, 10:02:21 AM
This winter, I will go and see an opera in Amsterdam. Van Gogh, I am coming !!
Excellent! 8)
That is a rather cool one
(https://www.franceculture.fr/s3/cruiser-production/2017/03/2bebb3bc-c628-479e-a069-0805d9cfaacc/738_2542957092_0d7cdfbcf9_b.jpg)
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on June 27, 2017, 06:58:15 AM
That is a rather cool one
(https://www.franceculture.fr/s3/cruiser-production/2017/03/2bebb3bc-c628-479e-a069-0805d9cfaacc/738_2542957092_0d7cdfbcf9_b.jpg)
That's the one. As it usually happens, it's even more impressive than the photograph suggests.
Quote from: Spineur on June 26, 2017, 10:14:06 AM
Ah ! Berthe Morisot, what an outstanding painter. She reached an extraordinary level, and equaled most of the most famous impressionists. Her paintings can be acquired at auctions and do not reach the stratospheric levels of Renoir or Cézanne.
Indeed. She's in a special category of favourite not-universally-known artists (along with, say, Gustave Moreau, Emil Nolde or Richard Gerstl) the work or which I always take note of when visiting a museum.
Quote from: Christo on June 26, 2017, 01:02:21 PM
And BTW: more Van Gogh in the Kröller-Müller Museum (in the midst of a national park): https://krollermuller.nl/en/van-gogh-gallery
Thanks for the reminder! Definitely one to visit someday.
Our upcoming trip to Ireland we will see the Cork Butter Museum!
We have a few Munchs here in Bergen (the 3rd largest Munch collection):
(http://kodebergen.no/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/RMS_M_245%20-%20Aften%20p%C3%A5%20Karl%20Johan_1892.jpg?itok=UWjgKuHJ)
(http://kodebergen.no/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/RMS_M_240%20-%20Inger%20p%C3%A5%20Stranden_1889.jpg?itok=hqE4kteH)
Quote from: The new erato on July 02, 2017, 12:12:01 AM
We have a few Munchs here in Bergen (the 3rd largest Munch collection):
(http://kodebergen.no/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/RMS_M_245%20-%20Aften%20p%C3%A5%20Karl%20Johan_1892.jpg?itok=UWjgKuHJ)
(http://kodebergen.no/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/RMS_M_240%20-%20Inger%20p%C3%A5%20Stranden_1889.jpg?itok=hqE4kteH)
Ah 'Evening on Karl Johan Street' - one of my favourites.
Two weeks ago I went to Colmar for a re-visit of Musée Unterlinden. it is most famous for the Issenheim altarpiece / Mathias Grünewald - which inspired, as we all know, Paul Hindemith ( the opera and the symphony).
The museum went through ample transformations and reopened in december 2015. As usual/expected ...the works turned out to be more expensive as hoped for...:
C'est finalement 48,7 millions d'euros que coûteront les travaux de rénovation du musée Unterlinden de Colmar. La mairie devra payer un surcoût de 1,9 millions d'euros, soit 10% de plus par rapport au coût initial.
http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/grand-est/emissions/la-france-en-docs/unterlinden-mon-musee-en-chantier.html
I think the transformation was well done and gives Colmar a splendid home to some extraordinary art. Colmar is a small city , but it is very atttractiv and has still some quite authentic corners.
The Alsace region was exceptionally beautiful in the hot summer light.
(http://www.pfaffenheim.com/image/page/3/la-cave-des-vignerons-de-pfaffenheim-slider_3.jpg)
I will be back!
http://www.musee-unterlinden.com/
(http://www.musee-unterlinden.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/unterlinden-05.jpg)
Peter
Van Gogh foundation Arles. This museum opened in 2014. About 10 van Gogh from the Brühle collection (Zurich) plus temporary exhibits. The new building is beautiful. There is a terasse on top with a nice view on the city
Another painting from the Arles period
Agladon Museum in Avignon. One of these little museum in a private hotel full of small treasures.
(https://angladon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/MODIGLIANI.jpg)
There are also very nice temporary exhibit. At the time of our visit there was a Raoul Dufy exhibit with la fée électrique and many other lovely pieces.
(http://www.raoul-dufy.com/images/chambreaix.jpg)
Quote from: Spineur on August 27, 2017, 11:03:49 AM
Agladon Museum in Avignon. One of these little museum in a private hotel full of small treasures.
(https://angladon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/MODIGLIANI.jpg)
There are also very nice temporary exhibit. At the time of our visit there was a Raoul Dufy exhibit with la fée électrique and many other lovely pieces.
You certainly visit some great museums and exhibits. :) And I remember about one (or two?) years ago when speaking of a Monet you used a term which I hadn't heard for a long time - 'grazing incidence' - although that's probably more down to the company I keep. ;D
In any case, good stuff.
Tomorrow we are going to see a Sisley exhibit in Aix en Provence, another town closeby. This is the end of our holidays. One last exhibit, one last kiss...
Quote from: Spineur on August 27, 2017, 11:20:14 AM
Tomorrow we are going to see a Sisley exhibit in Aix en Provence, another town closeby. This is the end of our holidays. One last exhibit, one last kiss...
Maybe it's last for now, but I'm sure there will be more in the future. And until then, perhaps lingering thoughts or new insights of previous exhibits.
In the meantime, I hope you have enjoy the Alfred Sisley.
Quote from: Spineur on August 27, 2017, 11:20:14 AM
Tomorrow we are going to see a Sisley exhibit in Aix en Provence, another town closeby. This is the end of our holidays. One last exhibit, one last kiss...
I envy you your provençal holiday,
Spineur! And some great museums you visited, as NikF pointed out (the Agladon in Avignon caught my attention). Let's see if I convoice my partner to repeat sometime soon the holidays in Provence we took a couple of years ago...
Since august, I did visit quite a few art exhibits, but the one I will tell you about is most unusual. It is ARTlandya and is a doll museum located close to Icod de los vinos, a tiny town on the coast of Tenerife Island. It isnt any dolls, they are unique works of of art by wordwide artists. The materials used are quite varied: polymers, papier maché, cloths, porcelain, wax, Cernit paste. The results are so expressive and so realist its stunning
http://www.artlandya.com/ (http://www.artlandya.com/)
Here are a few pics
And a few more
I was in Rome for a few days in February and, shockingly enough, found some time to visit some of its numerous museums.
The Vatican Museums (crowded even in a random February day!)
The Capitoline Museums (equally filled with masterpieces, but no crowds)
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica (two sites: Palazzo Barberini and Palazzo Corsini)
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
Museo Nazionale Etrusco (two sites: Villa Giulia and Villa Poniatowski, the latter with very limited opening hours)
Museo Nazionale Romano (visited two - out of its four - sites: Palazzo Massimo alle Terme and Palazzo Altemps)
Galleria Borghese (which was hosting a splendid Bernini exhibition, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its reopening)
Galleria Doria Pamphilj (perhaps the most important private art collection in Rome...)
Galleria Colonna (...followed by this one, which in turn is displayed inside one of the most palatial Roman residences)
Chiostro del Bramante (old convent turned contemporary art exhibition space)
Complesso del Vittoriano (which hosted a superb Monet exhibition, in collaboration with the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris)
Quote from: Wanderer on March 11, 2018, 03:46:21 AM
I was in Rome for a few days in February and, shockingly enough, found some time to visit some of its numerous museums.
The Vatican Museums (crowded even in a random February day!)
The Capitoline Museums (equally filled with masterpieces, but no crowds)
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica (two sites: Palazzo Barberini and Palazzo Corsini)
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
Museo Nazionale Etrusco (two sites: Villa Giulia and Villa Poniatowski, the latter with very limited opening hours)
Museo Nazionale Romano (visited two - out of its four - sites: Palazzo Massimo alle Terme and Palazzo Altemps)
Galleria Borghese (which was hosting a splendid Bernini exhibition, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its reopening)
Galleria Doria Pamphilj (perhaps the most important private art collection in Rome...)
Galleria Colonna (...followed by this one, which in turn is displayed inside one of the most palatial Roman residences)
Chiostro del Bramante (old convent turned contemporary art exhibition space)
Complesso del Vittoriano (which hosted a superb Monet exhibition, in collaboration with the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris)
How wonderful! Sounds special indeed.
Quote from: Wanderer on March 11, 2018, 03:46:21 AM
I was in Rome for a few days in February and, shockingly enough, found some time to visit some of its numerous museums.
The Vatican Museums (crowded even in a random February day!)
The Capitoline Museums (equally filled with masterpieces, but no crowds)
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica (two sites: Palazzo Barberini and Palazzo Corsini)
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
Museo Nazionale Etrusco (two sites: Villa Giulia and Villa Poniatowski, the latter with very limited opening hours)
Museo Nazionale Romano (visited two - out of its four - sites: Palazzo Massimo alle Terme and Palazzo Altemps)
Galleria Borghese (which was hosting a splendid Bernini exhibition, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its reopening)
Galleria Doria Pamphilj (perhaps the most important private art collection in Rome...)
Galleria Colonna (...followed by this one, which in turn is displayed inside one of the most palatial Roman residences)
Chiostro del Bramante (old convent turned contemporary art exhibition space)
Complesso del Vittoriano (which hosted a superb Monet exhibition, in collaboration with the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris)
Rome is the only city which surpasses Paris in term of museums and artwork (architecture, sculpture). In term of paintings not everything is inside museum. The Carravagio collection at the Borghese galleria is very very impressive, but then go to Saint Louis les Francais (San Luigi dei Francesi), and you will admire these masterpieces
(http://saintlouis-rome.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/vocation_de_matthieu.jpg)
(http://www.rome-passion.com/photos/saintlouisfrancais/saint-louis-des-francais-2.jpg)
(http://www.rome-passion.com/photos/saintlouisfrancais/martyr-saint-matthieu.jpg)
Those alone, justify a trip to Rome.
On our recent trip to Lille, France, we visited its Fine Arts Museum - Palais des Beaux Arts (http://www.pba-lille.fr/en).
Its main attractions are a collection of 15th and 16th century art from the (Southern) Netherlands (before its conquest by Louis XIV, Lille (Rijssel) and surrounding region was Flemish), and there is an extensive collection of 19th French Romantic sculptures and paintings. Apart from that there are a few pieces by famous Impressionists.
Some highlights:
(http://www.pba-lille.fr/var/www/storage/images/palais-des-beaux-arts-de-lille/collections/chefs-d-oeuvre/moyen-age-et-renaissance/retable-de-saint-georges/8745-1-fre-FR/Retable-de-saint-Georges_artwork_illustration.jpg) (http://www.pba-lille.fr/var/www/storage/images/palais-des-beaux-arts-de-lille/collections/chefs-d-oeuvre/moyen-age-et-renaissance/la-chute-des-damnes/16803-34-eng-GB/The-Fall-of-the-Damned_artwork_illustration.jpg)
(http://www.pba-lille.fr/var/www/storage/images/palais-des-beaux-arts-de-lille/collections/chefs-d-oeuvre/moyen-age-et-renaissance/triptyque-de-la-vierge-a-l-enfant/18285-21-eng-GB/Triptych-of-the-Virgin-with-Child-surrounded-by-musician-angels_artwork_illustration.jpg)
(http://www.pba-lille.fr/var/www/storage/images/palais-des-beaux-arts-de-lille/collections/chefs-d-oeuvre/sculptures-du-xixe-siecle/satyre-et-bacchante/18153-11-eng-GB/Satyr-and-Bacchante_artwork_illustration.jpg)
(http://www.pba-lille.fr/var/www/storage/images/palais-des-beaux-arts-de-lille/collections/chefs-d-oeuvre/peintures-xvi-sup-e-sup-xxi-sup-e-sup-siecles/le-parlement-de-londres/16879-12-eng-GB/Houses-of-Parliament-London_artwork_illustration.jpg)
Q
During a business trip to Brussels this week, I managed to find the time to visit a quite wonderful exhibition of Fernand Léger ("Beauty is Everywhere") at the Bozar. Apart from some impressive big format paintings, early cubist pieces, some works with musical connections (the set designs for Milhaud's La création du monde and Honegger's Skating Rink—both productions of Rolf de Maré's Ballets Suédois), I was particularly taken by a smallish version of the La partie de campagne series that Léger painted towards the end of his life (and which to me seems a synthesis of this artists career):
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2FuGh8XQAVk/WAOh1tORg0I/AAAAAAAAGwM/kaE-5Rt4f50LHRercGVBieRFx__ID0S1wCLcB/s400/ferdinand.jpg)
I used to have mixed feelings about Léger, but as of late he's become one of my favourite 20th century painters...
This week end I went to the opera de Lyon to hear Verdi MacBeth. Unfortunately the staging by Ivo van Hove was a real failure, to the point of damaging Verdi's opera. The orchestra, the chorus and the singers managed to save more or less the show. I took the opportunity to visit Le musée des beaux arts on the nearby place des Terreaux.
There is a monumental staircase painted with Puvis de Chavane frescos. Pretty cool.
My favorite painting there is this Berthe Morisot
My wife and I will be visiting London this June: she has always wanted to see England (I also!) and Schoenberg's Gurrelieder just happens to be scheduled in late June, the Philharmonia Orchestra with Esa Pekka-Salonen conducting.
So we hope to see as many of the major London museums as possible, along with a side trap to Bath to see the Roman ruins there.
Quote from: Cato on March 28, 2018, 12:14:23 PM
My wife and I will be visiting London this June: she has always wanted to see England (I also!) and Schoenberg's Gurrelieder just happens to be scheduled in late June, the Philharmonia Orchestra with Esa Pekka-Salonen conducting.
So we hope to see as many of the major London museums as possible, along with a side trap to Bath to see the Roman ruins there.
Chester is just as interesting from a Roman ruin POV.
If you do go to Bath, try to do it via Salisbury. The Cathedral Close is about as near to Barchester as you can get in the modern world.
Quote from: Cato on March 28, 2018, 12:14:23 PM
My wife and I will be visiting London this June: she has always wanted to see England (I also!) and Schoenberg's Gurrelieder just happens to be scheduled in late June, the Philharmonia Orchestra with Esa Pekka-Salonen conducting.
So we hope to see as many of the major London museums as possible, along with a side trap to Bath to see the Roman ruins there.
The John Soanes House is a small oddball museum really worth seeing.
Quote from: Cato on March 28, 2018, 12:14:23 PM
My wife and I will be visiting London this June: she has always wanted to see England (I also!) and Schoenberg's Gurrelieder just happens to be scheduled in late June, the Philharmonia Orchestra with Esa Pekka-Salonen conducting.
So we hope to see as many of the major London museums as possible, along with a side trap to Bath to see the Roman ruins there.
The John Soanes House is a small oddball museum really worth seeing.
Quote from: Cato on March 28, 2018, 12:14:23 PM
My wife and I will be visiting London this June: she has always wanted to see England (I also!) and Schoenberg's Gurrelieder just happens to be scheduled in late June, the Philharmonia Orchestra with Esa Pekka-Salonen conducting.
So we hope to see as many of the major London museums as possible, along with a side trap to Bath to see the Roman ruins there.
The John Soanes House is a small oddball museum really worth seeing.
Quote from: Ken B on March 28, 2018, 05:28:45 PM
The John Soanes House is a small oddball museum really worth seeing.
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on March 28, 2018, 05:21:59 PM
Chester is just as interesting from a Roman ruin POV.
If you do go to Bath, try to do it via Salisbury. The Cathedral Close is about as near to Barchester as you can get in the modern world.
Many thanks for the recommendations!
Where's
Spineur? Did he not survive the transition to the new server? :(
Quote from: Spineur on March 11, 2018, 08:40:01 AM
...but then go to Saint Louis les Francais (San Luigi dei Francesi), and you will admire these masterpieces...
Indeed I went... four times in five days!
Santa Maria del Popolo, on the other hand, another treasure chest of great art (including a couple more breathtaking Caravaggios), proved more difficult to visit: I managed to get in on the third try. In addition to the fact that every self-respected Roman church has its own opening hours, the Franciscans who run it don't allow access if there's a mass going on. (Understandable, but... hint: there's always a mass going on.) So, a word to the wise: Santa Maria del Popolo may be deceptively centrally located, but don't leave it to the last moment otherwise you may not get in (and that would be a shame).
The Caravaggio in Sant'Agostino had been sent to Milan for an exhibition; they were kind enough to mount a full-size replica in its place for the unsuspecting visitor, though (I knew it was gone, but appreciated the gesture nonetheless).
Since that last post of mine back in March, other museums I managed to visit this year, some for the first time, include:
Berlinthe usual suspects on
Museumsinsel:
Altes Museum,
Neues Museum,
Bode-Museum, (truly deserted at the time and hosting a splendid exhibition of works from the ethnographic collection - African sculpture - intermingled with the primarily medieval European sculpture of the museum's collection, an amazing juxtaposition)
Pergamonmuseum, (half of it, the better half - the Pergamon altar and its sculptures - closed for renovations)
Alte Nationalgalerie (plus exhibition Rodin – Rilke – Hofmannsthal (https://www.smb.museum/en/exhibitions/detail/rodin-rilke-hofmannsthal.html))
Brücke-Museum (hosting a 50-year anniversary exhibition of the museum's substantial holdings)
GemäldegalerieSammlung BorosHamburger Bahnhof – Museum für GegenwartMuseum für NaturkundeDresdenGemäldegalerie Alte MeisterGalerie Neue MeisterGrünes GewölbeKupferstich-Kabinett
LeipzigMuseum der bildenden KünsteViennaKunsthistorisches Museum (bonus: they had the Klimtbrücke (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cknZx3UAK8Q) installed for the centenary celebrations)
Albertina (temporary exhibitions on
Keith Haring,
Florentina Pakosta and
Martha Jungwirth)
Belvedere (new hanging of the collection - photography allowed this time - and an impressive temporary exhibition:
Beyond Klimt (https://www.belvedere.at/Beyond_Klimt))
Leopold Museum (hosting a spectacular centenary exhibition on
Egon Schiele, as well as exhibitions on the Heidi Horten collection (https://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/94/wow), VIENNA 1900
Klimt – Moser – Gerstl – Kokoschka (https://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/93/vienna-1900), SCHIELE – BRUS – PALME (https://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/96/schiele-brus-palme), Zoran Mušič (https://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/98/zoran-music) and Anton Romako)
Museum moderner Kunst (among the highlights, a comprehensive
Bruno Gironcoli retrospective (https://www.mumok.at/en/events/bruno-gironcoli))
Gemäldegalerie der Akademie der bildenden KünsteMuseum für angewandte KunstWeltmuseumSecessionNaturhistorisches Museum
I was recently in the French alps - Vercors region . Mountains, ibex, vultures, clean air....I spent a day in Grenoble and visited le Musée - excellent collection!
http://www.museedegrenoble.fr/
A superb Zurbaran:
(http://www.museedegrenoble.fr/uploads/Image/a5/IMF_OEUVRE/9331_798_Zurbaran-L-Adoration-des-Mages.jpg)
and a beautiful Vuillard
(http://www.museedegrenoble.fr/uploads/Image/53/IMF_OEUVRE/9429_407_Vuillard-Femme-au-corsage-bleu.jpg)
P.
Speaking of oddball museums, check out the American Toby Jug Museum in Evanston, IL:
https://www.tobyjugmuseum.com/
We caught this as part of Open House Chicago, which happens one weekend in October, when over 200 notable architectural sites open their doors to the public for free.
https://openhousechicago.org/
The Museum of Everything, in a former barber's shop on Chiltern Street in London's West End.
http://www.musevery.com/#main
It is a museum dedicated to outsider art, and IMO is interesting and thought provoking. Recommended.
Visited the Balthus exhibition that just opened at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza here in Madrid.
It's actually very well laid out, covering the whole of the painter's career (who, although he did evolve along the years, was also very coherent throughout). I must say I think there's much to admire in Balthus's art, e.g. his incorporation of the techniques of the old masters, and—to an extent—his independent path (even if de Chirico and, later on, Matisse are not too far away). But, strangely, I honestly feel little love for his work, which I find unsettling without any real reason ("effect without cause"?).
Here one of the more notable paintings, The Card Game (which is in the Thyssen's permanent collection):
(https://www.artehistoria.com/sites/default/files/imagenobra/BAL00110.jpg)
For its 200th birthday, the NYT sent a reporter who's been to the Prado many, many times back - to see every single room, walk down every single hallway, and try to catch every single artwork in the place. The question: How much would he find that he didn't expect to find, or didn't know about? The answer: a lot. (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/18/travel/prado-bicenntenial.html)
As of May there will be a Gauguin exposition in Ottawa. Some 40 works. It will then travel to London's National Gallery. I love these traveling exhibitions.
Would love to visit that one if I happened to be in either of the cities, Ottawa preferably.
Museums visited in the last six months. Temporary exhibitions in parentheses.
Paris, March 2019
Musée du Louvre
Musée Jacquemart-André (Hammershøi, le maître de la peinture danoise (https://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/fr/hammershoi-maitre-peinture-danoise))
Musée Bourdelle
Centre Pompidou - Musée National d'Art Moderne
Musée du Luxembourg (Les Nabis et le décor - Bonnard, Vuillard, Maurice Denis... (https://museeduluxembourg.fr/expositions/les-nabis-et-le-decor))
Musée de l'Orangerie (Franz Marc / August Macke. L'aventure du Cavalier bleu (https://www.musee-orangerie.fr/fr/evenement/franz-marc-august-macke-laventure-du-cavalier-bleu))
Musée Maillol (La Collection Emil Bührle (https://www.museemaillol.com/fr/collection-emil-buhrle))
Musée Rodin
Musée Gustave Moreau
Musée d'Orsay (Le "Talisman" de Sérusier, une prophétie de la couleur (https://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/evenements/expositions/aux-musees/presentation-generale/article/le-talisman-de-serusier-47536.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=254&cHash=35b6415c83))
Petit Palais - Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris
Fondation Louis Vuitton (La Collection de la Fondation. Le parti de la peinture (https://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/fr/expositions/exposition/la-collection-de-la-fondation-le-parti-de-la-peinture.html) & La Collection Courtauld. Le parti de l'impressionisme (https://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/fr/expositions/exposition/la-collection-courtauld-le-parti-de-l-impressionnisme.html))
Beaux-Arts de Paris (Léonard de Vinci et la Renaissance italienne (https://www.beauxartsparis.fr/fr/expositions/expositions-en-cours))
Naples, February 2019
Museo Archaeologico Nazionale di Napoli
Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte (Depositi di Capodimonte. Storie ancora da scrivere (http://www.museocapodimonte.beniculturali.it/portfolio_page/depositi-di-capodimonte-storie-ancora-da-scrivere/))
Pio Monte della Misericordia
Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro
Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano (Rubens, van Dyck, Ribera. La collezione di un principe (https://www.gallerieditalia.com/it/napoli/mostra-rubens-van-dyck-ribera/))
Florence, February 2019
Gallerie degli Uffizi (Flora Commedia. Cai Guo-Qiang agli Uffizi (https://www.uffizi.it/eventi/flora-commedia-cai-guo-qiang-agli-uffizi))
Galleria dell'Accademia
Museo del Bargello
Cappelle Medicee
Opera di Santa Croce
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo
Cappella Brancacci
Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Palazzo Vecchio
Palazzo Pitti
Rome, February 2019
Musei Capitolini
Musei Vaticani (Winckelmann. Capolavori diffusi nei Musei Vaticani (http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/it/eventi-e-novita/iniziative/mostre/2018/winckelmann-capolavori-diffusi.html))
Galleria Doria Pamphilj
Galleria Colonna
Palazzo Barberini (La stanza di Mantegna (https://www.barberinicorsini.org/evento/la-stanza-di-mantegna-capolavori-dal-museo-jacquemart-andre-di-parigi/))
Galleria Corsini
Braccio di Carlo Magno (Pilgrimage of Russian Art - From Dionysius to Malevich (http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/it/eventi-e-novita/iniziative/mostre/2018/pilgrimage-of-russian-art.html))
Galleria Spada
Palazzo Altemps
Palazzo Massimo alle Terme
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna
Galleria Borghese (Picasso. La scultura (http://galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it/it/mostra/picasso-la-scultura))
Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia
Villa Poniatowski
Complesso del Vittoriano (Pollock e la Scuola di New York (http://www.ilvittoriano.com/mostra-pollock-roma.html))
Munich, January 2019
Alte Pinakothek (Florenz und seine Maler: von Giotto bis Leonardo da Vinci (https://www.pinakothek.de/florenz))
Pinakothek der Moderne (Die Irrfahrten des Meese (https://www.pinakothek.de/ausstellungen/die-irrfahrten-des-meese), RESET. PIPILOTTI RIST – HIMALAYA GOLDSTEINS STUBE (https://www.pinakothek.de/ausstellungen/reset-pipilotti-rist-himalaya-goldsteins-stube))
Schackgalerie (ERZÄHLEN IN BILDERN. EDWARD VON STEINLE UND LEOPOLD BODE (https://www.pinakothek.de/ausstellungen/erzaehlen-bildern-edward-von-steinle-und-leopold-bode))
Museum Brandhorst (Cy Twombly: In the Studio (https://www.pinakothek.de/ausstellungen/cy-twombly-studio))
Lenbachhaus (Phantastisch! Alfred Kubin und Der Blaue Reiter (https://www.lenbachhaus.de/ausstellungen/2019/phantastisch-alfred-kubin-und-der-blaue-reiter/))
Kunstbau (Weltempfänger - Georgiana Houghton, Hilma af Klint, Emma Kunz (https://www.lenbachhaus.de/ausstellungen/2019/georgiana-houghton-hilma-af-klint-emma-kunz/))
Residenz
Haus der Kunst (Jörg Immendorff: Für alle Lieben in der Welt (https://hausderkunst.de/ausstellungen/joerg-immendorff?locale=de), Kapsel 09: Raphaela Vogel (https://hausderkunst.de/ausstellungen/kapsel-09-raphaela-vogel?locale=de), Kapsel 10: Khvay Samnang (https://hausderkunst.de/ausstellungen/kapsel-10-khvay-samnang?locale=de))
Museum Villa Stuck (Thomas Hirschhorn »Never Give Up The Spot«)
Vienna, November 2018
Kunsthistorisches Museum (Bruegel (https://www.bruegel2018.at/?L=1), Spitzmaus Mummy in a Coffin and other Treasures (https://www.khm.at/besuchen/ausstellungen/wesandersonandjumanmalouf2018/))
Naturhistorisches Museum (Krieg. Auf den Spuren einer Evolution (https://www.nhm-wien.ac.at/krieg))
Weltmuseum
Albertina (Claude Monet (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/monet/), Niko Pirosmani (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/niko-pirosmani/))
Belvedere (Egon Schiele. Wege einer Sammlung (https://www.belvedere.at/Ausstellung_Egon_Schiele), DER KREMSER SCHMIDT. ZUM 300. GEBURTSTAG (https://www.belvedere.at/ausstellung/kremser_schmidt), DONNA HUANCA. PIEDRA QUEMADA (https://www.belvedere.at/bel_de/ausstellung/donna_huanca_))
Kunstforum Wien (Faszination Japan: Monet · Van Gogh · Klimt (https://www.kunstforumwien.at/de/ausstellungen/hauptausstellungen/258/faszination-japan))
Gemäldegalerie der Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien zu Gast im Theatermuseum
I am visiting Washington DC for a few days. Today's museums
Museum of American History
National Archives
Museum of African American History and Culture
All of them are part of the Smithsonian, and therefore no admission charged.
Only saw half or a third of each because of time limits and crowds. It seems like every high school in the Midwest has picked this week for their spring tour, resulting in the museums being packed with teenagers. Almost all are well behaved, but lines are long and exhibits crowded with adolescents. Having to have security checks at each museum does not help.
The Archives were a disappointment because the chief display is the Rotunda, with the originals of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Of the three, only the Constitution has not faded to the point of being completely unreadable.
The Museum of African American History was the most interesting, and also the newest. The floor of cultural exhibits includes a large segment devoted to music, with artifacts connected to various musicians, especially clothes and instruments. The trumpets of both Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong are displayed, for instance. Most dramatic object in the exhibit was Chuck Berry's red Eldorado Cadillac.
Tomorrow's visits are to be the Newseum, the National Portrait Gallery, and a couple of Civil War related sites.
Quote from: JBS on May 16, 2019, 07:08:39 PM
I am visiting Washington DC for a few days. Today's museums
Museum of American History
National Archives
Museum of African American History and Culture
All of them are part of the Smithsonian, and therefore no admission charged.
Wait a minute! You mean that in the uber-capitalist USA ther are museums free of charge?
Take that, socialist Europe, where you often have to pay to visit even a rather small church.
Quote from: Florestan on May 17, 2019, 10:08:27 AM
Take that, socialist Europe, where you often have to pay to visit even a rather small church.
Come on, I rarely ever pay any entrance fee - for very practical reasons (something with money) I learnt the trick
never to spend any on entrance fees when I was a student and still had no difficulty in staying for a week in Venice (church hostel) and see (almost)
everything I wanted. If you don't like the fuss and fees of Florence, you go to the cathedral of neighbouring Prato, switch on the lights and discover - for yourselves, all alone - some of the most beautiful frescos (Fra Lippo Lippi and much more). After that, you can have the whole town of Pistoia for yourself, with again some of the most beautiful churches ever. But neither in Berlin, where I spent four days with my boy (12) early this month and did exactly the same: saw museums, churches, palaces (Potsdam) and we greatly enjoyed them, all for free. ASO: no money needed, except for those crowded places that you wanted to avoid anyhow. 8)
Quote from: Christo on May 17, 2019, 10:49:03 AM
Come on, I rarely ever pay any entrance fee - for very practical reasons (something with money) I learnt the trick never to spend any on entrance fees when I was a student and still had no difficulty in staying for a week in Venice (church hostel) and see (almost) everything I wanted. If you don't like the fuss and fees of Florence, you go to the cathedral of neighbouring Prato, switch on the lights and discover - for yourselves, all alone - some of the most beautiful frescos (Fra Lippo Lippi and much more). After that, you can have the whole town of Pistoia for yourself, with again some of the most beautiful churches ever. But neither in Berlin, where I spent four days with my boy (12) early this month and did exactly the same: saw museums, churches, palaces (Potsdam) and we greatly enjoyed them, all for free. ASO: no money needed, except for those crowded places that you wanted to avoid anyhow. 8)
Come on --- do you really want me to believe you that you paid nothing in Venice, Florence or Berlin museums? Sorry, I don't buy it (pun).
Quote from: Florestan on May 17, 2019, 10:57:56 AM
Come on --- do you really want me to believe you that you paid nothing in Venice, Florence or Berlin museums? Sorry, I don't buy it (pun).
Not a penny, during a couple of visits (except for the occasion I wanted to see
Uffizi, but that has been the only one IIRC).
Quote from: Christo on May 17, 2019, 11:26:02 AM
No penny, during a couple of visits (except for the occasion I wanted to see Uffizi, but that has been the only one IIRC).
How on earth did you manage it?
And: there is a difference between managing not to pay the official admission price, and officially not being asked to pay anything.
Quote from: Florestan on May 17, 2019, 11:28:44 AM
How on earth did you manage it?
And: there is a difference between managing not to pay the official admission price, and officially not being asked to pay anything.
I recall that in New York if you want to enter the Metropolitan Museum there is a "suggested donation." Somehow not calling it an admission fee has some favorable legal or tax implication. They depend on the fact that few have the nerve to decline to make the "suggested donation."
Quote from: Ghost of Baron Scarpia on May 17, 2019, 11:36:22 AM
I recall that in New York if you want to enter there is a "suggested donation." Somehow not calling it an admission fee has some favorable legal or accounting implication. They depend on the fact that few have the nerve to decline to make the "suggested donation."
I certainly would have the nerve not to pay anything which is not mandatory, and anyway less that suggested. Donation? Yes, I donate my time. ;D
Quote from: Florestan on May 17, 2019, 10:08:27 AM
Wait a minute! You mean that in the uber-capitalist USA ther are museums free of charge?
Take that, socialist Europe, where you often have to pay to visit even a rather small church.
James Smithson, whose bequest was the origin of the Smithsonian complex, specified that the public be admitted at no charge.
Today, the Newseum, the highlight being nothing to do with news per se, but a small section of the Berlin Wall (perhaps 20 feet long or so) and guard tower with accompanying searchlight. Also an exhibit showing every photograph that has won the Pulitzer Prize. Not being psrt of the Smithsonian, the ticket cost $25 per person.
Clara Barton Missing Soldier's Office, which she established immediately after the Civil War, to help families locate soldiers who had disappeared in the chaos of the war (at least half of those she located had died, many of them among those who died in Andersonville Prison).
The National Portrait Gallery and Gallery of American Art, one of those museums that requires at least a full day, possibly two, so I only looked through the galleries on early American art and the Presidential portraits.
Flying home now, so pictures here
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDyo5Gh
Grand finale at night
Trumpets belong to Armstrong and Gillespie, Cadillac to Chuck Berry, jacket to Miles Davis, at the African American Museum.
Recently visited museums (temporary exhibitions in parentheses).
Amsterdam, May 2019
Van Gogh Museum (Hockney - Van Gogh (https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/whats-on/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/exhibition-hockney-van-gogh))
Collectie Six
Rijksmuseum (All the Rembrandts (https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/all-the-rembrandts-exhibition))
Stedelijk Museum (Maria Lassnig - Ways of Being (https://www.stedelijk.nl/en/exhibitions/maria-lassnig), Pinball Wizard - The Work and Life of Jacqueline de Jong (https://www.stedelijk.nl/en/exhibitions/pinball-wizard), Hybrid Sculpture (https://www.stedelijk.nl/en/exhibitions/hybrid-sculpture), Bárbara Wagner & Benjamin de Burca - You Are Seeing Things (https://www.stedelijk.nl/en/exhibitions/you-are-seeing-things))
Den Haag, May 2019
Mauritshuis
Vienna, June 2019
Ernst Fuchs Museum
Kunsthistorisches Museum (Mark Rothko (https://rothko.khm.at/en/), The Master of Heiligenkreuz (https://www.khm.at/en/visit/exhibitions/the-master-of-heiligenkreuz/), grey time – Fractions of the Museum (https://www.khm.at/en/visit/exhibitions/grey-time-fractions-of-the-museum/), The Last Day (https://www.khm.at/en/visit/exhibitions/the-last-day/))
Albertina (Rubens bis Makart. Die Fürstlichen Sammlungen Liechtenstein (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/liechtenstein-the-princely-collections/), Rudolf von Alt und seine Zeit. Aquarelle aus den Fürstlichen Sammlungen Liechtenstein (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/rudolf-von-alt-and-his-time/), Die Neue Sachlichkeit (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/new-objectivity/), Hermann Nitsch. Räume aus Farbe (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/nitsch-spaces-of-color/), Sean Scully. Eleuthera (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/sean-scully-eleuthera/))
Leopold Museum (Oskar Kokoschka (https://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/108/oskar-kokoschka), Olga Wisinger-Florian (https://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/110/olga-wisinger-florian), Edmund Kalb (https://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/109/edmund-kalb), Vienna 1900 - Birth of Modernism (https://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/107/vienna-1900))
Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien (Vertigo. Op Art and a History of Deception 1520–1970 (https://www.mumok.at/en/events/vertigo), Dorit Margreiter. Really! (https://www.mumok.at/en/events/dorit-margreiter-0), Pattern and Decoration. Ornament as Promise (https://www.mumok.at/en/events/pattern-and-decoration), Christian Kosmas Mayer. Aeviternity (https://www.mumok.at/en/events/christian-kosmas-mayer))
Naturhistorisches Museum (MELTDOWN. A Visualization of Climate Change by Project Pressure (https://www.nhm-wien.ac.at/meltdown), Nightwatch. A visual conjunction of art and astronomy (https://www.nhm-wien.ac.at/en/nightwatch_a_visual_conjunction_of_art_and_astronomy))
Ephesos Museum
Gartenpalais & Stadtpalais Liechtenstein - DIE FÜRSTLICHEN SAMMLUNGEN
Österreichische Galerie Belvedere (Kiki Smith. Procession (https://www.belvedere.at/exhibition_kiki_smith), Talking Heads. Contemporary Dialogues with F.X. Messerschmidt (https://www.belvedere.at/exhibition_talking_heads), Fast & Fluid. The Fascination of the Oil Sketch (https://www.belvedere.at/fascination_oil_sketch))
Museum für angewandte Kunst (UNCANNY VALUES. Artificial Intelligence & You (https://www.mak.at/jart/prj3/mak-resp/main.jart?rel=en&reserve-mode=active&content-id=1461719618760&article_id=1542957252132&event_id=1542957252147), Vienna Biennale for Change 2019 (https://www.mak.at/jart/prj3/mak-resp/main.jart?rel=en&reserve-mode=active&content-id=1461719618760&article_id=1542034724785&event_id=1542034724793))
Prunksaal der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek
Kunstforum Wien (Flying High: Women Artists of Art Brut (https://www.kunstforumwien.at/en/exhibition/kunstforum/275/flying-high-women-artists-of-art-brut))
Gemäldegalerie der Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien zu Gast im Theatermuseum (Off the cuff. A joint view on commedia dell'arte (https://www.theatermuseum.at/en/in-front-of-the-curtain/exhibitions/off-the-cuff/), Bosch & Kühn - Korrespondenzen (http://www.akademiegalerie.at/de/Ausstellungen/Ausstellungen%202019/Bosch%20und%20K%C3%BChn))
Theatermuseum (Everybody dances. The Cosmos of Viennese Dance Modernism (https://www.theatermuseum.at/en/in-front-of-the-curtain/exhibitions/everybody-dances/))
Kaiserliche Schatzkammer Wien
Haus der Geschichte Österreich
Papyrusmuseum der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek
Weltmuseum Wien (Nepal Art Now (https://www.weltmuseumwien.at/en/exhibitions/nepal-art-now/), The Elegance of Hosokawa (https://www.weltmuseumwien.at/en/exhibitions/the-elegance-of-hosokawa/), Korridor des Staunens (https://www.weltmuseumwien.at/en/exhibitions/galleries-of-marvel/), Hofjagd- und Rüstkammer (https://www.khm.at/en/visit/collections/imperial-armoury/), Sammlung alter Musikinstrumente (https://www.khm.at/en/visit/collections/collection-of-historic-musical-instruments/))
Athens
National Archaeological Museum (Οι αμέτρητες όψεις του Ωραίου / The countless aspects of Beauty (https://www.namuseum.gr/en/periodic_exhibition/oi-ametrites-opseis-toy-oraioy-2/), Αδριανός και Αθήνα. Συνομιλώντας με έναν ιδεατό κόσμο / Hadrian and Athens. Conversing with an Ideal World (https://www.namuseum.gr/en/periodic_exhibition/adrianos-amp-athina-synomilontas-me-enan-ideato-kosmo/))
Benaki Museum Peiraios 138 Annex (Δρόμοι της Αραβίας. Αρχαιολογικοί Θησαυροί από την Σαουδική Αραβία / Roads of Arabia: Archaeological Treasures from Saudi Arabia (https://www.benaki.org/index.php?option=com_events&view=event&type=&id=5906&lang=en))
Acropolis Museum
Archaeological Museum of Olympia
Archaeological Museum of Eleusis
Archaeological Museum of Agrinion
Quote from: Ghost of Baron Scarpia on May 17, 2019, 11:36:22 AM
I recall that in New York if you want to enter the Metropolitan Museum there is a "suggested donation." Somehow not calling it an admission fee has some favorable legal or tax implication. They depend on the fact that few have the nerve to decline to make the "suggested donation."
I believe this is no longer the case, as the "suggested donation" has now become a normal ticket for visitors from outside New York State. Residents of New York, I believe, still have the right to a number of free visits (per month?), provided they book a time slot on a special website.
The "suggested donation" system, although good in theory (it does work occasionally), also meant in this particular case that scores of cheap tourists, who otherwise had no financial qualms or difficulties engaging in marathon shopping sprees in the city, suddenly became paupers when it came to contribute a modest sum towards the maintenance of a world-renowned cultural institution they were visiting. If the institution of a ticket means less of those people and their selfie-obsessed determination inside the halls, then that's a good thing for everyone.
Visited a Picasso exhibition at CaixaForum (La Caixa Foundation--an old power substation in the city centre beautifully refurbished by Herzog & de Meuron--a smaller Tate Modern in a way ;)), centred around the painter's years with his first wife Olga Khokhlova. This was the time Picasso abandoned cubism, launched himself into a neoclassical and neo-Renaissance period, was fully consecrated as a leading artist and became a member of the beau monde (gone was the squalor of the bateau-lavoir, Picasso having moved to the chic Rue de la Boétie, in a flat cum studio with cook, chauffeur and the whole shebang).
Most of the works on exhibit come from the Musée Picasso in Paris (where the exhibition was first given, before travelling to Málaga and now to Madrid). Some wonderful works on display, including the great surprise of seeing "in the flesh" one of Picasso's well known portraits of Stravinsky:
(https://www.pablo-ruiz-picasso.net/images/works/117.jpg)
Also, some fantastic raphaelite female figures, as for instance the stunning drawing in the relatively unusual medium of crayon on canvas on the left of the photo:
(https://www.malagahoy.es/2019/02/25/ocio/exposicion-Olga-Picasso-Museo-Malaga_1331277626_95637820_1011x569.jpg)
At the end of the years covered (i.e., towards the mid-30s), Picasso once again moves on, to a style influenced by surrealism, and his depictions of Olga become sterner and bitterer, while a new muse (Marie-Thérèse Walter) entered his life.
(https://www.elimparcial.es/album/imagenes/785/picasso_7.jpg)
And as an added bonus, it was great to see again what is probably Picasso's greatest achievement in the printed medium, and IMHO one of the most stunning etchings ever produced by any artist, Minotauromachie:
(https://recursos.march.es/web/arte/madrid/exposiciones/picasso-minotauromaquia/img/minotauromaquia.jpg)
The exhibition runs through September 7, so I'm sure to visit it another couple of times this summer.
I was recently a couple of days in Leipzig and finally saw this :
(http://kulturkompasset.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_4252-600x600.jpg)
I used to travel relatuively often to Leipzig some years ago on business, but never managed to go into the Gewandhaus and see that Beethoven monument.
Unfortunately, Richard Wagner is almost completely ignored in his native city. What I did visit every time, though, of course, was this:
(http://s3.amazonaws.com/zweb-s3.assets/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Bach-JS-grave-Mar19.jpg)
I wasn't able to do and/or see all the musical hotspots in Leipzig. But I was lucky to witness (for some time) an organ lesson at the Thomaskirche.
The Beethoven monument by Max Klinger is now at the Museum für Bildende Künste:
https://www.leipzig.travel/en/culture/poi-detailseite/poi/infos/museum-der-bildenden-kuenste-beethoven/
Klinger isn't- understandably- to everyone's taste: German symbolism can be ...overwhelming and many of his works were very controversial! One doesn't often see a fully naked Christ on the cross - par exemple!
Anyway, his etchings and drawings are a pure joy to see . His particular blend of symbolism and Art Nouveau hints at surrealism.
Apparently, Klinger was a talented pianist. Brahms was a friend.!
(https://assets.catawiki.nl/assets/2019/3/17/f/7/4/f749c3f4-d825-4bfb-b2f3-b31ff1cbf973.jpg)
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oUH9oxrcDk4/WWk7OtSC7xI/AAAAAAAA8Ng/ntCXa4vJy9QZG4BRx3CH2GWY83DPgnClQCLcBGAs/s640/Crucifixion%2Bof%2BChrist%252C%2B1890%252C%2BMax_klinger%252C.JPG)
This canvas measures 251 × 465 cm!!
Most interesting, pjme! TBH, Klinger's work is definitely not my cup of tea.... And that huge crucifixion canvas is to my eyes really bizarre. What can that couple behind the Penitent Thief be up to? ??? ::)
Quote from: ritter on June 24, 2019, 11:09:08 AM
Most interesting, pjme! TBH, Klinger's work is definitely not my cup of tea.... And that huge crucifixion canvas is to my eyes really bizarre. What can that couple behind the Penitent Thief be up to? ??? ::)
Hmmmm ... I checked the painting again and am fairly certain that they are just sturdy carpenters who took their clothes off because crucifying three men in the burning sun is such hard work...
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Max_Klinger_-_Kreuzigung_Christi_%281890%29.jpg
Quote from: pjme on June 24, 2019, 12:29:19 PM
Hmmmm ... I checked the painting again and am fairly certain that they are just sturdy carpenters who took their clothes off because crucifying three men in the burning sun is such hard work...
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Max_Klinger_-_Kreuzigung_Christi_%281890%29.jpg
Hmmm indeed... ::)
Quote from: ritter on June 24, 2019, 02:08:49 AM
I used to travel relatuively often to Leipzig some years ago on business, but never managed to go into the Gewandhaus and see that Beethoven monument.
Unfortunately, Richard Wagner is almost completely ignored in his native city. What I did visit every time, though, of course, was this:
(http://s3.amazonaws.com/zweb-s3.assets/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Bach-JS-grave-Mar19.jpg)
This beautiful and inspiring performance of the Goldberg Variations was filmed on location in St Thomas, with the pianist playing a few feet away from Bach's tombstone:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71zreqT-lRL._SY550_.jpg)
Quote from: ritter on June 24, 2019, 02:08:49 AM
Unfortunately, Richard Wagner is almost completely ignored in his native city. What I did visit every time, though, of course, was this:
Possibly because Wagner is more associated with Dresden where he grew up and later worked. To be honest, I had forgotten he was born in Leipzig. Surprised though there isn't at least a plaque of some kind.
In a park, close to the central station, and at the backside of the Opera, there's a small Wagner statue:
https://www.leipzig.travel/en/culture/poi-detailseite/?eID=iotf&f=21430&hash=1763926993c2644895ee44f7ba0b37c4a4&ts=1537357494&w=800
In 2013 a new "Denkmal" has been erected:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Wagner-Denkmal_Leipzig.jpg/800px-Wagner-Denkmal_Leipzig.jpg
There's also an unfinished Wagner statue designed by Max Klinger ...of which only the base was completed. Klinger died before he could work on the statue.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Modell_Wagner-Denkmal.jpg)
"...wegen der nackten Rheintöchter bisweilen auch als ,,Pornowürfel" bezeichnet." Ah, Klinger and nudity: " because these Rhine maidens are naked, also known as the "porn cube"...)
Klinger was married and (thus?) not gay. However, other artists in the Leipzig/Dresden artistic circles he knew and befriended, definitely were. The most "extravagant" was possibly Sascha Schneider.
"In 1903 he met best-selling author Karl May, and subsequently became the cover illustrator of a number of May's books including Winnetou, Old Surehand, Am Rio de la Plata ...but I'm sure you will be rather surprised as you actually see these book illustrations."
Many of the pictures are very, very bizarre for the way they juxtapose naked figures with angels, demons or monsters. The Winnetou illustrations, which should be depicting Native Americans, look more suited to the walls of a (male) brothel / salon in fin de siècle Paris than stories of the Wild West.
Art and artists never fail to surprise and fascinate me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sascha_Schneider
And there's this plaque where the house RW was born in used to stand:
(https://wagner-verband-leipzig.de/engl/system/html/Tafel1-8b886aee.jpg)
I read that the 2013 monument uses Klinger's "porn cube" base of 100 years earlier.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Wagner-Denkmal_Leipzig.jpg/800px-Wagner-Denkmal_Leipzig.jpg)
Indeed, it does.
Quote from: pjme on June 25, 2019, 02:06:24 AM
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Wagner-Denkmal_Leipzig.jpg/800px-Wagner-Denkmal_Leipzig.jpg)
Indeed, it does.
It all makes sense...
RW as a wedding cake figurine on top of what actually looks like a piece of weeding cake.... ;D
Recent visits (+ temporary exhibitions in parentheses).
Munich, November 2019
Alte Pinakothek (Van Dyck (https://www.pinakothek.de/vandyck), Wenn du an die Neue denkst... (https://www.pinakothek.de/ausstellungen/neue-alte))
Pinakothek der Moderne (FEELINGS - Kunst und Emotion (https://www.pinakothek.de/ausstellungen/feelings-kunst-und-emotion), GEORG BASELITZ. DIE SCHENKUNG (https://www.pinakothek.de/ausstellungen/georg-baselitz-die-schenkung), Franz Radziwill – Zwei Seiten eines Künstlers (https://www.pinakothek.de/ausstellungen/franz-radziwill-zwei-seiten-eines-kuenstlers), Die Welt als Ganzes (https://www.pinakothek.de/ausstellungen/die-welt-als-ganzes), ANSELM KIEFER – DIE MICHAEL & ELEONORE STOFFEL STIFTUNG ERWIRBT FÜNF ARBEITEN DES KÜNSTLERS FÜR DIE BAYERISCHEN STAATSGEMÄLDESAMMLUNGEN (https://www.pinakothek.de/ausstellungen/anselm-kiefer-die-michael-eleonore-stoffel-stiftung-erwirbt-fuenf-arbeiten-des))
Museum Brandhorst (Forever Young - 10 Jahre Museum Brandhorst (https://www.pinakothek.de/ausstellungen/forever-young-10-jahre-museum-brandhorst))
Residenz München
Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus (DAS MALERISCHE - Die Kunst, die richtige Farbe auf den richtigen Fleck zu setzen (https://www.lenbachhaus.de/ausstellungen/das-malerische/), Senga Nengudi - Topologien (https://www.lenbachhaus.de/ausstellungen/senga-nengudi/))
Kunstbau (Lebensmenschen - Alexej von Jawlensky und Marianne von Werefkin (https://www.lenbachhaus.de/ausstellungen/lebensmenschen/))
Haus der Kunst (Markus Lüpertz. Über die Kunst zum Bild (https://hausderkunst.de/en/exhibitions/markus-luepertz))
Frankfurt, November 2019
Städel Museum (Making Van Gogh - Geschichte einer deutschen Liebe (https://www.staedelmuseum.de/en/vangogh), ,,Große Realistik & Große Abstraktion" - Zeichnungen von Max Beckmann bis Gerhard Richter (https://www.staedelmuseum.de/en/exhibitions/great-realism-great-abstraction))
Schirn Kunsthalle (Lee Krasner (https://www.schirn.de/en/exhibitions/2019/lee_krasner/))
Vienna, December 2019
Kunsthistorisches Museum (Caravaggio & Bernini. Entdeckung der Gefühle (https://caravaggio-bernini.khm.at/en/), Jan van Eyck - "Als Ich Kan" (https://www.khm.at/en/visit/exhibitions/jan-van-eyck/))
Albertina (Albrecht Dürer (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/albrecht-duerer/), A Passion for Drawing. The Guerlain Collection from the Centre Pompidou Paris (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/a-passion-for-drawing-the-guerlain-collection-from-the-centre-pompidou/), Arnulf Rainer. Eine Hommage (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/arnulf-rainer-a-tribute/))
Leopold Museum (Richard Gerstl (https://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/111/richard-gerstl), Deutscher Expressionismus. Die Sammlungen Braglia und Johenning (https://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/112/german-expressionism))
Kunstforum Wien (Pierre Bonnard - Die Farbe der Erinnerung (https://www.kunstforumwien.at/en/exhibition/kunstforum/273/pierre-bonnard), Alfredo Barsuglia: Take on me (https://www.kunstforumwien.at/de/ausstellungen/tresor-ausstellungen/289/alfredo-barsuglia-take-on-me))
Ephesos Museum
Weltmuseum Wien
Athens
National Archaeological Museum
Byzantine & Christian Museum
Acropolis Museum
Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation, Athens
Before the lockdown:
Rome, February 2020
Palazzo Massimo alle Terme
Museo delle Terme di Diocleziano
Palazzo delle Esposizioni (Jim Dine (https://www.palazzoesposizioni.it/mostra/jim-dine-eng), GABRIELE BASILICO | METROPOLI (https://www.palazzoesposizioni.it/mostra/gabriele-basilico-metropoli-eng))
Palazzo Altemps
Musja (The Dark Side (https://www.musja.it/en/the-dark-side/?lang=en))
Real Academia de España en Roma
Musei Capitolini
Palazzo e Galleria Colonna
Palazzo Bonaparte (Impressionisti segreti (https://www.mostrepalazzobonaparte.it/impressionisti-segreti))
Museo Nazionale Preistorico Etnografico "Luigi Pigorini" - Museo delle Civiltà
Palazzo Farnese
MAXXI - Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI Secolo
Musei Vaticani
Galleria Borghese (VALADIER. Splendore nella Roma del Settecento (https://galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it/en/exhibition/valadier-splendore-nella-roma-del-settecento/))
Florence, February 2020
Gallerie degli Uffizi
Galleria dell'Accademia
Museo Archaeologico Nazionale di Firenze
Athens
EMST - National Museum of Contemporary Art
Olympia
Archaeological Museum of Olympia
Museum of the History of the Olympic Games of Antiquity
Another Italian trip, planned for March, was not meant to be. I'd planned to see, among others, the 500th anniversary Raphael exhibition (https://www.scuderiequirinale.it/mostra/raffaello-000) at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome and the Tomás Saraceno exhibition (https://www.palazzostrozzi.org/en/archivio/exhibitions/tomas-saraceno/) at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence.
After a hiatus of several years (two of them because of professional reasons, and the last two due to COVID restrictions), it was good to be back at the largest European trade fair of my industry held in Cannes in March every year. As could be expected, I took advantage of some free time in the last day to visit some of the cultural landmarks on the Côte d'Azur. I returned briefly to the breathtaking Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, and this time I had the privilege of actually sleeping in La Colombe d'Or (and eat among the Picasso, Miró, Dufy, Calder, Braque, etc., etc., paintings hanging on the walls of the dining room).
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cxGrNLsXJEk/WSmMfo8LeRI/AAAAAAAAjWg/5x9U-HV96tYRmbpFq-i-BWSBYJ27Vv8MgCLcB/s1600/La%2BColombe%2Bd%2527Or%2Bdining%2Broom.JPG)
New to me this time was the Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence, with stained-glass windows, murals, fixtures and decorations by Henri Matisse. Even the priests' cassocks —on display in the adjoining museum, along with designs, drawings, documents— are by Matisse. He referred to this project as 'his masterpiece". It is a building of supreme serenity and great beauty.
(http://chapellematisse.com/img/acc_bijou.jpg)
(http://chapellematisse.com/img/9345.jpg)
(https://www.musee-matisse-nice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/MATISSE-0623-Chapelle-du-Rosaire-2021..jpg)
I then drove down to the Fernand Léger Museum in Biot near Antibes, which houses the largest collection of works by the artist, mainly donated by his widow Nadia (but also by other well-known names such as Michel and Louise Leiris). The building itself (by architect Andreï Svetchine) is unassuming, but the posthumously executed mosaics that cover the façades are quite impressive:
(https://www.france-voyage.com/visuals/photos/museo-nacional-fernand-leger-39399_w600.webp) (https://www.biot-tourisme.com/wp-content/uploads/external/ec99d532c67a2b13cdaa9651bee91f88-8372577-1000x710.jpg)
The collection covers all periods of Léger's career, interestingly including some of the few surviving —he destroyed most of them— works from his early post-impressionist phase. An example is this Les Fortifications d'Ajaccio from 1907 (59 x 108 cm):
(https://musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr/fleger/fleger/chagall/fleger/sites/fernandleger/files/2020-11/Fortifacations.JPG)
Highlights include Le 14 juillet (1914, 65 x 58 cm):
(https://musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr/fleger/fleger/chagall/fleger/sites/fernandleger/files/img_22.jpeg)
Les Plongeurs polychromes from his years in America during WW2 (250 x 186 cm).
(https://musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr/fleger/fleger/chagall/fleger/sites/fernandleger/files/2020-11/02-001174.jpg)
The "definitive" version of Les Constructeurs (1950, 300 x 228 cm):
(https://musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr/fleger/fleger/chagall/fleger/sites/fernandleger/files/img_57.jpeg)
And this stunning Les Loisirs sur fond rouge from 1949 (113 x 146 cm):
(https://musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr/fleger/fleger/chagall/fleger/sites/fernandleger/files/2020-11/02-001222.jpg)
The collection also includes some works with musical associations (set designs fro Honegger's ballet Skating Rink and for Milhaud's opera Bolivar), but they don't seem to be on display.
Also on a five-year loan from a museum in Paris, there's the monumental (491 x 870 cm) Le Transport des forces, created by Léger and some of his students for the 1937 Paris World Fair. Despite the dire political climate of the time, what a show that must have been! That's where Picasso's Guernica and Raoul Dufy's mammoth and stunning La Fée Electricité were unveiled as well.
(https://www.cnap.fr/sites/default/files/styles/desktop_1_col/public/import_destination/image/148310_visuel_1_5d68892_fnac_2015-0477.jpg?itok=Q6XtNPXV)
All in all, this museum is a tucked-away gem that is sure to yield great rewards to anyone interested in Léger or 20th century art in general.
Great to see, ritter. Were there many restrictions, mask use etc.?
Quote from: MusicTurner on March 19, 2022, 03:00:21 AM
Great to see, ritter. Were there many restrictions, mask use etc.?
None,
MusicTurner, none at all! No masks in France anymore (either indoors or outdoors), no vaccine certificate requested.
Rien de rien! Coming from Spain, where we still have an indoor mask mandate, it felt strange...
Quote from: ritter on March 19, 2022, 03:08:52 AM
None, MusicTurner, none at all! No masks in France anymore (either indoors or outdoors), no vaccine certificate requested. Rien de rien!
(...)
Thank you - enjoyable ...
Interesting, I have rented an apartment in Biot for the last week of September. And I saw a major Leger exhibition in Baden-Baden in 2012.
BTW, Matisse is probably in my top 10 of painters. I was in Vence 20 years ago, must make the trip again in September.
Guess the Hermitage is off my list forever.
A lot of people, also Russophiles, are skipping prospects as regards any future visiting Russia. Just heard a local connoisseur, novellist and former Moscow correspondent, Leif Davidsen, stating the same ... likely he's been to Russia for the last time.
Visited a small exhibition of works by José María Sert (1874-1945) at the Fundación Juan March here in Madrid this morning.
Sert was a fashionable decorative painter in the first half of the 20th century. He's mainly remembered today because when Diego Rivera's murals were deemed unsuitable for the Rockefeller Center in New York City, Sert was commissioned to paint new ones over Rivera's work (they're still on display). He also painted large panels for one of the dining rooms ofthe Waldorf Astoria Hotel (they've since been removed and can be seen at the Fundación Banco Santander in the outskirts of of Madrid).
The exhibition consists of two rooms, mainly showing the decorations Sert made in 1916 for railroad tycoon Sir Saxton Noble's country manor in Norfolk, and the B&W panels he prepared for Juan March's Madrid dining room in the 1940s.
This is very theatrical, baroque and decorative painting, with a strong influence of Goya an El Greco. Rather enjoyable.
Some of the works from 1916:
(https://www.march.es/sites/default/files/styles/style_1312/public/2022-03/1c.jpg?itok=dADfBjgI)
(https://www.lavanguardia.com/files/image_948_465/uploads/2022/06/16/62aa5d2127d3a.jpeg)
And from 1942:
(https://www.march.es/sites/default/files/styles/style_1312/public/2022-03/PANEL%201corregido-1%20F.jpg?itok=GQ2f2MLh)
(https://www.hoyesarte.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/030SERT_baja-scaled.jpg)
For music lovers, It is well worth to explore the life of Misia!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misia_Sert
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41GDViRmWlL._SX302_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
Kyoto National Museum, etc. Kyoto, Japan
Various. Tokyo, Japan
National Palace Museum. Taipei, Taiwan
National Archaeological Museum, Byzantine Museum, etc. Athens, Greece
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada
Museum of Vancouver. Vancouver, Canada
Museo Nacional de Colombia. Bogota, Colombia
Antioquia Museum. Medellin, Colombia
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, etc. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Museo Municipal De Bellas Artes. Rosario, Argentina
Various. NY, New Orleans, Atlanta, LA, USA.
After covid-lockdowns report: museum visits in Spain (June 2022), Italy (March 2022) and Paris (October 2021) - temporary exhibitions in parentheses.
Madrid, June 2022
Museo Nacional del Prado
Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando
Museo Lázaro Galdiano
Palacio de Liria
Palacio Real de Madrid
Museo Reina Sofía - Fluffy political art has ousted most of the permanent collection off the walls; apparently, a personal crusade of the current director. Stunning Guernica, thankfully, did not have to move.
Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza (Ragnar Kjartansson - Paisajes Emocionales, Arte americano en la Colección Thyssen)
Cordoba, June 2022
Palacio de Viana
Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba
Toledo, June 2022
Museo de Santa Cruz (Alfonso X - El legado de un rey precursor, Juan de Borgoña: un maestro oculto)
Museo Convento de Santo Domingo el Antiguo
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
Museo del Greco
Iglesia de Santo Tomé
Catedral de Toledo
Granada, June 2022
Alhambra
Catedral de Granada
Capilla Real de Granada
Rome, March 2022
Palazzo Farnese - the Galleria Carracci stunning as ever
Musei Vaticani
Galleria Borghese (Guido Reni a Roma - Il sacro e la natura)
Museo di Roma - Palazzo Braschi (Klimt - La Secessione e l'Italia)
Area archaeologica del Vicus Caprarius
Palazzo Barberini (Caravaggio e Artemisia: La Sfida di Giuditta - Violenza e seduzione nella pittura tra Cinquecento e Seicento)
Musei Capitolini
Florence, March 2022
Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore (The Three Pietàs of Michelangelo)
Gallerie degli Uffizi
Siena, March 2022
Complesso museale e cripta del Duomo di Siena
Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo
Paris, October 2021
Halle Saint-Pierre (Dans les têtes de Stephane Blanquet, Tranchée Racine)
Musée du Louvre (Paris-Athènes, Naissance de la Grèce moderne)
Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection (Urs Fischer: Untitled (2011)*)
Musée National d'Art Moderne - Centre Pompidou (Baselitz)
Musée de l'Orangerie (Soutine/de Kooning)
Musée National Gustave Moreau (Les Fables de La Fontaine)
Fondation Louis Vuitton (La Collection Morozov - Icônes de l'Art Moderne)
Petit Palais - Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris (Ilya Répine - Peindre l'âme russe)
Musée d'Orsay (Signac collectionneur)
*The most striking part of the exhibition in the impressively renovated Bourse de Commerce was an imposing installation by Urs Fischer which dominated the expansive central space under the glass dome.
Composed of wax sculptures, Untitled (2011) is a group of monumental candles lit on the first day of the exhibition. The centerpiece is a life-size replica of Giambologna's The Abduction of the Sabine Women. "The wax liquefies, and that which seemed perennial and genuine, turns out to be fragile and fictitious." Untitled lasts as long as the wicks of the candles continue to burn. Initially whole, then gradually disintegrating or trickling away, the work is meant as "a monument to impermanence, transformation, the passage of time, metamorphosis, and creative destruction."
Quote from: ritter on July 10, 2022, 07:42:06 AM
Visited a small exhibition of works by José María Sert (1874-1945) at the Fundación Juan March here in Madrid this morning.
Sert was a fashionable decorative painter in the first half of the 20th century. He's mainly remembered today because when Diego Rivera's murals were deemed unsuitable for the Rockefeller Center in New York City, Sert was commissioned to paint new ones over Rivera's work (they're still on display). He also painted large panels for one of the dining rooms ofthe Waldorf Astoria Hotel (they've since been removed and can be seen at the Fundación Banco Santander in the outskirts of of Madrid).
The exhibition consists of two rooms, mainly showing the decorations Sert made in 1916 for railroad tycoon Sir Saxton Noble's country manor in Norfolk, and the B&W panels he prepared for Juan March's Madrid dining room in the 1940s.
This is very theatrical, baroque and decorative painting, with a strong influence of Goya an El Greco. Rather enjoyable.
Some of the works from 1916:
(https://www.march.es/sites/default/files/styles/style_1312/public/2022-03/1c.jpg?itok=dADfBjgI)
(https://www.lavanguardia.com/files/image_948_465/uploads/2022/06/16/62aa5d2127d3a.jpeg)
And from 1942:
(https://www.march.es/sites/default/files/styles/style_1312/public/2022-03/PANEL%201corregido-1%20F.jpg?itok=GQ2f2MLh)
(https://www.hoyesarte.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/030SERT_baja-scaled.jpg)
Interesting re Sert and Diego Rivera. I expect that "they" have done some work to examine the paintings/layers under the Sert paintings?
Quote from: Wanderer on August 23, 2022, 09:36:14 AM
After covid-lockdowns report: museum visits in Spain (June 2022), Italy (March 2022) and Paris (October 2021) - temporary exhibitions in parentheses....
Sounds like you've been busy visiting museums! :) I'm happy for you. Must have been some nice wanderings and explorations?
PD
Quote from: ritter on July 10, 2022, 07:42:06 AM
Visited a small exhibition of works by José María Sert (1874-1945) at the Fundación Juan March here in Madrid this morning.
Sert was a fashionable decorative painter in the first half of the 20th century. He's mainly remembered today because when Diego Rivera's murals were deemed unsuitable for the Rockefeller Center in New York City, Sert was commissioned to paint new ones over Rivera's work (they're still on display). He also painted large panels for one of the dining rooms ofthe Waldorf Astoria Hotel (they've since been removed and can be seen at the Fundación Banco Santander in the outskirts of of Madrid).
The exhibition consists of two rooms, mainly showing the decorations Sert made in 1916 for railroad tycoon Sir Saxton Noble's country manor in Norfolk, and the B&W panels he prepared for Juan March's Madrid dining room in the 1940s.
This is very theatrical, baroque and decorative painting, with a strong influence of Goya an El Greco. Rather enjoyable.
Some of the works from 1916:
(https://www.march.es/sites/default/files/styles/style_1312/public/2022-03/1c.jpg?itok=dADfBjgI)
(https://www.lavanguardia.com/files/image_948_465/uploads/2022/06/16/62aa5d2127d3a.jpeg)
And from 1942:
(https://www.march.es/sites/default/files/styles/style_1312/public/2022-03/PANEL%201corregido-1%20F.jpg?itok=GQ2f2MLh)
(https://www.hoyesarte.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/030SERT_baja-scaled.jpg)
Realise you are based in Madrid, a city I would love to visit. But can you recommend places of particular interest in Saville and Barcelona where I will be visiting in October?
Quote from: Irons on August 26, 2022, 07:55:45 AM
Realise you are based in Madrid, a city I would love to visit. But can you recommend places of particular interest in S[e]ville and Barcelona where I will be visiting in October?
You didn't ask me, nevertheless I'd say just roam freely in both cities,
Seville especially; you'll be as in an enchanted garden: could not and would not escape it. 8)
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on August 23, 2022, 10:01:45 AM
Sounds like you've been busy visiting museums! :) I'm happy for you. Must have been some nice wanderings and explorations?
Indeed it has! Any interesting museums/exhibitions that you visited recently?
Being able to see places during this period was like a trip to the past. In Greece, Santorini, for instance, was for two years eerily quiet and quaint again and we were able to savour its beauty without the hordes that normally descend upon it. Locals were saying that it felt like the '70s were back. The island of Cephalonia last summer was as I remember it in the early/mid '80s (it's where I spent most of my childhood summers).
Rome is always pleasantly devoid of mass tourism in the winter, but in March this year it was the first time I actually saw the Vatican Museums uncrowded from end to end and the Sistine Chapel almost empty for the duration of my visit (pro-tip: the Etruscan antiquities section is always empty, despite holding, among other treasures, one of the most amazing works of ancient Greek pottery: the Exekias amphora - discovered in an Etruscan tomb in Vulci. When there, don't miss it.) People were actually standing and praying in the Cappella Sistina for a change, instead of trying to take clandestine photos behind the guards' backs.
No such luck of wistful quietness at the Louvre in front of the Mona Lisa, I'm afraid, however the museum seemed to have finally found an efficient crowd control method that also allows for everyone to get a (for most, selfie-related) chance in front of the painting. Crowds were noticeably lighter compared to pre-covid times in general and the rest of the museum was either uncrowded (Italian and French monumental paintings, Greek antiquities) or downright empty (decorative arts, French and Dutch paintings - very disappointed that one of my favourite paintings, Vermeer's Astronomer, was not there: it had been lent to Abu Dhabi for an exhibition). And as for the splendid Morozov Collection exhibition, it already feels like it happened in a different era; blockbuster exhibitions in collaboration with Russian museums are not likely to be happening again any time soon.
By June, it became readily apparent that people were travelling again; Athens airport, quiet for two years, was again teeming with activity. Whereas Madrid felt normally crowded in the tourist areas (no frame of reference, this was my first trip to Spain), Toledo and Granada, Toledo especially, were unexpectedly devoid of crowds. The Alhambra was simply a delight. Cordoba exceeded expectations, such a jewel of a place and apart from what I felt was a normal amount of visitors at the Mezquita (timed entry only for crowd control, but I was allowed to get in upon arrival at the doors half an hour early) the rest of the town felt like there were no tourists at all. No huge crowds at the Prado museum, either; I visited two times in different days to be able to see everything comfortably and give ample time to my highlights.
The first museum I want to visit upon return to Athens is the National Gallery, for its new retrospective exhibition of one of my favourite Greek painters,
Konstantinos Parthenis.
"RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION: KONSTANTINOS PARTHENIS, PAINTING AN IDEAL GREECE
The National Gallery presents the exhibition "Konstantinos Parthenis (1878–1967) – Painting an Ideal Greece", the first comprehensive retrospective exhibition dedicated to the oeuvre of one of the most outstanding figures of modern Greek painting. The exhibition showcases the artist's multifaceted, uplifting and deeply Greek creative output in a gesture of powerful symbolism, being the first retrospective dedicated to a Greek artist in the new National Gallery, following on the first, monumental temporary exhibition "The Art of Portraiture in the Louvre Collections".
Konstantinos Parthenis's life and career spans from the late 19th century until the late 1960s, when he lived and worked in his home studio at the foot of the Acropolis. Alexandria, Vienna, Paris, Corfu and Athens are landmark cities in a career that is yet to be comprehensively documented and definitively assessed in art history. In his painting, Parthenis developed a creative dialogue with the modernist movement while maintaining his own distinct style, where iconographic references to antique and Byzantine art expand his extraordinary painting vocabulary, which evolved steadily throughout his life in a wide range of works.
He pioneered a groundbreaking approach to modernism and justified his belief that the artist deserves recognition and support from the state.
With his appointment as professor to the Athens School of Fine Arts, he changed the way art was taught and introduced a new ethics in fine art education. His close friendship with intellectuals and politicians, as well as his views on the political turbulence of Greek history in the interwar period, left a strong mark on his career and work.
The tensions his presence generated in his colleagues and his courageous withdrawal to his home studio in the last 30 years of his life gave rise to a mystery surrounding his often esoteric painting.
Most of Konstantinos Parthenis's paintings, drawings and documents are in the National Gallery collections. Their provenance is mainly by bequest from the artist's two children. For the first time in this retrospective, selected exhibits from the museum's collections are complemented by major works from private and public collections, which trace with sobriety, clarity and simplicity the evolution of his painting.
A PROTEAN ARTIST
Parthenis's creative output is characterised by protean transformation. Only Picasso (1881–1973), who was of the same age with Parthenis, can be compared with him in this respect. Moreover, the Greek artist shares with his Spanish peer another rare privilege: both artists manage to maintain a stylistic constancy, an unmistakable genetic code, an instantly recognisable style that permeates and unifies their wide-ranging creative endeavours. What gives Parthenis's work its unique individuality is the way he treats the creative act as a purely intellectual affair, as a cosa mentale, to quote Leonardo da Vinci (1459–1519). Its destination is pure poetry but the path leading to that peak is research, expertise, wisdom: "Yet art must also possess science... And anyone can be taught science. Art is essentially individual, personal."
After his return from Paris, with his impressions of the bold colours of Les Fauves and Les Nabis still vivid, Parthenis painted a few delightful landscapes from life, mainly on Corfu but also elsewhere in Greece, without any symbolist connotations. It was only during that period that the painter joined his peers of Techni art group, who in the first two decades of the 20th century produced pure plein-air works as part of a quest for a Greek modernism. Strong stylisation would prevail in his work soon after, while a poetic wind transformed his landscapes into transcendental, Elysian visions. Paradoxical as it may seem, this stylisation reveals a latent quality of the Attic light which results in a sharp delineation of volumes and incisive forms, giving primacy to line over colour. It is this quality of his teacher's painting that the insightful Tsarouchis would call "Atticism."
The 1920s would see Parthenis gradually retreat from society and immerse himself in the visionary world of his mature painting, populated by allegorical and symbolic images. Curvilinear, wavy, dancing, his human figures are harmoniously integrated into their setting and resonate with the surrounding compositional elements – trees, mountains, hills. Memories of the European symbolists, both older and younger ones (Puvis de Chavannes, Maurice Denis, Ferdinand Hodler), but also influences from Byzantine art or El Greco, well-assimilated and subordinated to the painter's personal idiom, can be traced in his works of that period (The Benefits of Transportation, 1920–1925). Colour, which retains its freshness in the large-scale allegorical and decorative compositions of the 1920s, would give way to more cerebral forms, reminiscent of the analytical phase of Cubism. It is no coincidence that this shift is observed in the post-Cubist still life paintings that came in parallel with the neoclassical still life paintings by Cubist pioneers – Picasso, Braque, Gris – which were produced during the same period in Paris. These colours, which Tsarouchis would describe as Polygnotan, are none other than the Byzantine colours introduced with true nationalistic zeal by Kontoglou in his paintings of the same period, influencing several artists of the Generation of the Thirties.
Parthenis's writing becomes increasingly geometric; curvilinear and straight lines alternate, often drawn using a ruler and compass, while the painting material becomes lighter, a spiritual essence. The naked canvas is transformed into a screen onto which are projected the transcendental images of his great visionary compositions, on which the artist focused almost exclusively in the 1930s. To utilise the rough texture and off-white colour of the back of the canvas, he did not hesitate to incorporate it into his most ambitious compositions, such as the monumental Apotheosis of Athanasios Diakos (1933). The supernatural events in these works can be described as theophanies, manifested by means of a technique that makes them look as if not made by human hand. Pigments lose their material substance, becoming a pure spiritual projection. The figures seem suspended, floating in a transcendental space where time has been abolished as in Byzantine art and where the relics of the visible world have been reduced to Platonic archetypes. One could say that Parthenis's mature works strive towards an ideal, sacred archetype not made by hands, reminiscent of the Veil of Veronica.
The catalyst in the crucible of the Alexandrian artist's unique eclecticism at the core of his style is an ideal celestial homeland of myth, history and art envisioned by an educated Greek of the diaspora from a privileged vantage point. This was precisely how Cavafy, too, envisioned and injected into his poetry the history and myth of a cherished, ideal and timeless Greece, charged with longing, from a distance. For, in reality, Parthenis remained forever self-exiled and unattached – a citizen of his own, utopian Greece."
Quote from: Wanderer on August 26, 2022, 12:23:27 PM
Indeed it has! Any interesting museums/exhibitions that you visited recently?
No, alas, nothing lately.
PD
Quote from: Irons on August 26, 2022, 07:55:45 AM
Realise you are based in Madrid, a city I would love to visit. But can you recommend places of particular interest in Saville and Barcelona where I will be visiting in October?
Hi
Irons.
It all depends on where your interest lie. I haven't been to Seville in years, but concur that wandering the streets , as suggested by
Florestan, is a great option —mainly the barrio de Santa Cruz). As for particular buildings, the mammoth cathedral and its belfry (the Giralda, of Muslim origin), the Reales Alcázares (royal palace), the Plaza de España (used in many films, including one of the Star Wars movies), the Casa de Pilates (palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli), Dueñas (Dukes of Alba), can all be worthwhile.
In Barcelona, the old gothic quarter is beautiful, and then you have all the modernist architecture (the incomplete Sagrada Familia cathedral) Casa Milà and Casa Batlló on Paseo de Gracia, Parque Güell —all by
Gaudí). If you're into modern art, the
Miró Foundation on Montjuïc is also very attractive (depending on what's on display, but the building itself —by
José Luis Sert, no relation to the painter José María— is worth a visit). I've never visited the National Art Museum of Catalonia, but the collection of Catalan Romanesque and Gothic art, as well as of modernist (turn of the 20th century) painting is supposed to be impressive. It also has a room dedicated to
José María Sert (if you liked what I showed in my previous post ;)).
Enjoy your trip!
Quote
...places of particular interest in Saville ...
In Saville, OTOH, your best bet is the tailors ;) (sorry, couldn't resist making the bad joke)...
Quote from: ritter on August 28, 2022, 03:48:32 AM
Hi Irons.
It all depends on where your interest lie. I haven't been to Seville in years, but concur that wandering the streets , as suggested by Florestan, is a great option —mainly the barrio de Santa Cruz). As for particular buildings, the mammoth cathedral and its belfry (the Giralda, of Muslim origin), the Reales Alcázares (royal palace), the Plaza de España (used in many films, including one of the Star Wars movies), the Casa de Pilates (palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli), Dueñas (Dukes of Alba), can all be worthwhile.
In Barcelona, the old gothic quarter is beautiful, and then you have all the modernist architecture (the incomplete Sagrada Familia cathedral) Casa Milà and Casa Batlló on Paseo de Gracia, Parque Güell —all by Gaudí). If you're into modern art, the Miró Foundation on Montjuïc is also very attractive (depending on what's on display, but the building itself —by José Luis Sert, no relation to the painter José María— is worth a visit). I've never visited the National Art Museum of Catalonia, but the collection of Catalan Romanesque and Gothic art, as well as of modernist (turn of the 20th century) painting is supposed to be impressive. It also has a room dedicated to José María Sert (if you liked what I showed in my previous post ;)).
Enjoy your trip!
In Saville, OTOH, your best bet is the tailors ;) (sorry, couldn't resist making the bad joke)...
Well, it could have been worse, a miracle it wasn't
(Jimmy) Savile :o.
I have visited Barcelona twice previously, but only explored Ramblas and football ground.
Seville :D is a first and really looking forward to it as told a beautiful city. Thanks for tips which are noted.
Quote from: Irons on August 29, 2022, 08:32:46 AM
Seville :D is a first and really looking forward to it as told a beautiful city.
My favorite Spanish city. It's really something else. Plenty of beautiful brunettes in the streets, too. :P
Quote from: Florestan on August 29, 2022, 08:47:20 AM
My favorite Spanish city. It's really something else. Plenty of beautiful brunettes in the streets, too. :P
Cannot claim to be a seasoned traveller but Spain is my favourite country to visit on the continent. My wife prefers Italy which arguably possess more historical interest. But for soaking up the sun with a cold beer, Spain for me.
Quote from: Irons on August 30, 2022, 08:22:15 AM
Cannot claim to be a seasoned traveller but Spain is my favourite country to visit on the continent. My wife prefers Italy which arguably possess more historical interest. But for soaking up the sun with a cold beer, Spain for me.
:D ;D
Hope that you enjoy your beer---er, I meant "trip".
PD
Quote from: Irons on August 30, 2022, 08:22:15 AM
Cannot claim to be a seasoned traveller but Spain is my favourite country to visit on the continent. My wife prefers Italy which arguably possess more historical interest. But for soaking up the sun with a cold beer, Spain for me.
From what I have read about weather in the UK, traveling to Spain will be superfluous. :(
A recent trip to the Harz Mountains in Germany included visiting Köthen, where Bach worked from 1717-1723, during the reign of Prince Leopold von Anhalt-Köthen.
We were passing by, and it was just a brief visit to the castle there, where the princely apartments also have a small Bach-related exhibition. Frankly, there wasn't any wow!-effect though, and the castle rooms, such as the renovated Spiegelsaal/Hall of Mirrors, weren't particularly impressive. If one knows a lot about Bach's life in Köthen, it would obviously be of more interest, however. I saw no original objects actually related to Bach, except contemporary paintings of princely and administrative figures, and modest exhibitions on the history of the town and medical sciences there; the rest of the Bach-exhibition consisted in musical instruments, some copies of manuscripts from the age (also by Corelli and others), pictures of the town, and a copy of a wine bill from Bach's wedding there.
But it was nice to see and feel the actual place of course.
Obviously, the town has more Bach-related sights, such as a so-called 'Bach-House' on the premises of one of his two vanished houses there, churches, etc.
A company does a Bach Cycling Tour in the region, lasting 10 days,
https://bachbybike.com/en/the-tours/tour-bachfesttage-kothen/
and of course there's a quite comprehensive, annual comprehensive Bach festival, Köthener Bachfesttage
https://www.bachfesttage.de/
Quote from: Irons on August 30, 2022, 08:22:15 AM
Cannot claim to be a seasoned traveller but Spain is my favourite country to visit on the continent. My wife prefers Italy which arguably possess more historical interest. But for soaking up the sun with a cold beer, Spain for me.
¡Camarero, una caña mas, por favor! 8)
A forgotten Belgian impressionist, in Ghent:
https://www.mskgent.be/tentoonstellingen/albert-baertsoen
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Baertsoen
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Cluysenaar_Baertsoen.jpg/266px-Cluysenaar_Baertsoen.jpg)
Quote from: pjme on September 03, 2022, 02:23:28 AM
A forgotten Belgian impressionist, in Ghent:
https://www.mskgent.be/tentoonstellingen/albert-baertsoen
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Baertsoen
The MSK organises such interesting exhibitions! I remember reading about their
Jan van Eyck exhibition that was to take place back in 2020 (and which eventually only lasted for about a month before lockdowns began) and wishing I'd be able to visit.
Ah, the Van Eyck exhibition. I had tickets ...for the day the exhibition had to close.... >:(
In Den Bosch, and well worth a visit: https://www.hetnoordbrabantsmuseum.nl/en/visit/exhibitions/2022/07/symbolism-in-flanders/
Early October 2022: Museum visits in beautiful, autumnal Vienna (temporary exhibitions in parentheses):
Museum für angewandte Kunst
Gemäldegalerie der Akademie der bildenden Künste
Naturhistorisches Museum (BRASILIEN - 200 Jahre Beziehungsgeschichten (https://www.nhm-wien.ac.at/en/exhibitions/special_exhibitions/brazil))
Leopold Museum (HAGENBUND - Von der gemäßigten zur radikalen Moderne (https://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/131/hagenbund))
Österreichische Galerie Belvedere (Lebensnah - Realistische Malerei von 1850 bis 1950 (https://www.belvedere.at/en/true-life#TheExhibition))
Kunsthistorisches Museum (Idole & Rivalen (https://idole-rivalen.khm.at/en/))
Albertina (Basquiat - Die Retrospektive (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/basquiat/), Francesco Clemente (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/francesco-clemente/), Hauenschild Ritter – Muntean/Rosenblum : Zwei Künstlerkollektive in Österreich (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/hauenschild-ritter-muntean-rosenblum-artist-collectives/), Tony Cragg - Sculpture: Body and Soul (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/tony-cragg/))
The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp is open again after 11 years of difficult (costs & delays) renovation and revamping.
But the result is very impressive! I was happy to see some old favorites: Rubens' Adoration of the magi, the Fouquet madonna, Ensor's oyster eater, Van Eyck's saint Barbara and a wealth of known and unkown Flemish artists of the early 20th century - Rik Wouters, Jules Schmalzigaug, Leon Spilliaert...
The architects worked wonders in preserving the atmosphere of a 19th century art-palace in combination with new rooms , fit for the 21st century.
https://kmska.be/en/about-kmska
Don't miss it if you visit the Low Countries!
(https://api.brusselstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/b3685555-ksmsks24922332n.jpg)
Took the grandkids (4 & 6) to the Natural History Museum in South Kensington yesterday. Even with crowds and filthy weather we had a great time. "Dippy" a Diplodocus was in residence, you do wonder why and how some dinosaurs evolved at such massive sizes. With free entry and popularity a system in place of booking a slot which saves joining a long queue. Pic below I took of a Stegosaurus.
Quote from: Wanderer on October 17, 2022, 01:05:48 AMEarly October 2022: Museum visits in beautiful, autumnal Vienna (temporary exhibitions in parentheses):
Museum für angewandte Kunst
Gemäldegalerie der Akademie der bildenden Künste
Naturhistorisches Museum (BRASILIEN - 200 Jahre Beziehungsgeschichten (https://www.nhm-wien.ac.at/en/exhibitions/special_exhibitions/brazil))
Leopold Museum (HAGENBUND - Von der gemäßigten zur radikalen Moderne (https://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/131/hagenbund))
Österreichische Galerie Belvedere (Lebensnah - Realistische Malerei von 1850 bis 1950 (https://www.belvedere.at/en/true-life#TheExhibition))
Kunsthistorisches Museum (Idole & Rivalen (https://idole-rivalen.khm.at/en/))
Albertina (Basquiat - Die Retrospektive (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/basquiat/), Francesco Clemente (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/francesco-clemente/), Hauenschild Ritter – Muntean/Rosenblum : Zwei Künstlerkollektive in Österreich (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/hauenschild-ritter-muntean-rosenblum-artist-collectives/), Tony Cragg - Sculpture: Body and Soul (https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/tony-cragg/))
What a wonderful list! :)
Last Tuesday:
Brueghel in Den Bosch (https://www.hetnoordbrabantsmuseum.nl/bezoek/tentoonstellingen/brueghel/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwm66pBhDQARIsALIR2zAJNXS1py_X9ho6Y0R693MLTSoC8Tdt6UjdanT0DT74KT4YOucgAIMaArHgEALw_wcB)
"For many years, those who wanted to admire the world-famous works of the Brueghel family of painters had no choice but to travel to the world's greatest museums in Paris, Berlin, Milan, and Boston. Now, for the first time in history, the Noordbrabants Museum is bringing together the best of five generations of Brueghel in a unique, ambitious, and game-changing collection of eighty paintings and prints – all under one roof. It's a family reunion in 's-Hertogenbosch!"
Very good and interesting show. "From generation to generation, the family business remained an international success. In the exhibition you get a look behind the scenes at three creative family businesses"
"The exhibition also takes a fresh look at the powerful women of the Brueghel dynasty. Who were they and what was their role in the family's success? Among others, we'll meet Mayken Verhulst: one of the most important female artists of her time as well as a shrewd businesswoman, mentor, artist's daughter, teacher, wife, mother-in-law, and grandmother."
Not a museum but a statue. Strange that we go to much trouble and expense to sightsee abroad but in our own backyard.....
This year is the 50th anniversary of the unveiling of the David Wynne sculpture 'Girl with a Dolphin' located near Tower Bridge. Must admit missing out on this which I plan to rectify hopefully next month. To add to my interest is the recent (last week) disclosure that former Wimbledon tennis champion Virginia Wade posed nude for Wynne. Who would have thought it! :o
Did she have to pose upside down??
Quote from: Brian on November 07, 2023, 07:32:14 AMDid she have to pose upside down??
While balancing on a dolphin. She did win Wimbledon so anything possible.
2023 has been a good year for museum-going (temporary exhibitions in parentheseis)
Rome, January 2023
Musei Vaticani
Galleria Borghese
Galleria Doria Pamphilj
Galleria nazionale d'arte moderna e contemporanea (Domenico Morelli. Immaginare cose non viste (https://lagallerianazionale.com/mostra/domenico-morelli-immaginare-cose-non-viste))
Palazzo Altemps
Castel Sant'Angelo
Palazzo Massimo alle Terme
Paris, February 2023
Musée d'Orsay
Fondation Louis Vuitton (MONET - MITCHELL (https://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/fr/evenements/claude-monet-joan-mitchell))
Musée du Louvre
Berlin & Potsdam, March 2023
Museum Barberini (Sonne. Die Quelle des Lichts in der Kunst (https://www.museum-barberini.de/de/ausstellungen/9493/sonne-die-quelle-des-lichts-in-der-kunst))
Altes Museum
Neues Museum
Alte Nationalgalerie
Neue Nationalgalerie (Die Kunst der Gesellschaft 1900–1945. Sammlung der Nationalgalerie (https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/neue-nationalgalerie/exhibitions/detail/the-art-of-society/))
Gemäldegalerie
Amsterdam, March 2023
Rijksmuseum (Vermeer (https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/whats-on/exhibitions/vermeer#:~:text=Sunday%20to%20Wednesday%3A%209%20a.m.,Thursday%20to%20Saturday%209am%20-%2011pm*))
Van Gogh Museum
Paris, May 2023
Musée du Luxembourg (LÉON MONET - Frère de l'artiste et collectionneur (https://museeduluxembourg.fr/en/agenda/evenement/leon-monet))
Musée Bourdelle
Château de Versailles (Chefs-d'œuvre de la chambre du roi, l'écho du Caravage à Versailles (https://www.chateauversailles.fr/actualites/expositions/chefs-oeuvre-chambre-roi-echo-caravage-versailles) & Le Petit Trianon sous l'Empire (https://www.chateauversailles.fr/actualites/expositions/petit-trianon-sous-empire#exposition))
Musée Gustave Moreau
Hôtel et Dôme des Invalides - Musée de l'Armée (La Haine des clans. Guerres de Religion, 1559-1610 (https://www.musee-armee.fr/au-programme/expositions/detail/la-haine-des-clans-guerres-de-religion-1559-1610.html))
Musée des Plans-Reliefs
Musée du Louvre
Musée de l'Orangerie (Matisse. Cahiers d'art, le tournant des années 30 (https://www.musee-orangerie.fr/fr/agenda/expositions/matisse-cahiers-dart-le-tournant-des-annees-30))
Musée Rodin
Sainte-Chapelle
Musée d'Orsay (Pastels. De Millet à Redon (https://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/agenda/expositions/pastels-de-millet-redon) & Manet / Degas (https://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/agenda/expositions/manet-degas))
Musée Cernuschi - Musée des arts de l'Asie de la Ville de Paris
Musée national Jean-Jacques Henner
Musée Nissim de Camondo
And in Greece:
Archaeological Museum of Olympia
Archaeological Museum of Delphi
Acropolis Museum - Pope Francis returns the Vatican's fragments of Parthenon to Greece (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/mar/24/pope-francis-returns-three-fragments-of-parthenon-to-greece)
National Gallery (Κωνσταντίνος Παρθένης, η ιδανική Ελλάδα της ζωγραφικής του (https://www.nationalgallery.gr/en/exhibitions/parthenis/))
National Archaeological Museum (The past is now. George Lazongas: Myths and Antiquity (https://www.namuseum.gr/en/temporary_exhibition/the-past-is-now-george-lazongas-myths-and-antiquity/))
To close the commemorative Picasso year (2023 marks the 50th anniversary of his death), the Reina Sofia Museum here in Madrid just opened an exhibition centred on the artists work in 1906 (when he sojourned for several months in the town of Gósol in the Leridan Pyrenees). I visited it today, and it was well worth the while (despite some logistical shortcomings).
The idea is that 1906 is a transitional year, with Picasso ending his rose period and being on the cusp of revolutionising art with Les Demoiselles d'Avignon in 1907. The subtitle of the exhibition is "The Great Transformation".
Some great rose period paintings, prefiguring the neoclassicism of the 20s and 30s, also some works that show the first influences of African masks, and —as the centrepiece of the show— the rare opportunity to see the portrait of Gertrude Stein (on loan from the Met in New York).
(https://historia-arte.com/_/eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpbSI6WyJcL2FydHdvcmtcL2ltYWdlRmlsZVwvZ2VydHJ1ZGUtc3RlaW4tcGljYXNzby5qcGciLCJyZXNpemUsODAwIl19.E4gAOtJaMQsByyxhjrH9WUtVzh51K4aQUIUzng7J6f8.jpg)
(https://static4.museoreinasofia.es/sites/default/files/styles/ficha_actividad_exposicion/public/exposiciones/p8.jpg?itok=S3lK3mDU)
(https://static4.museoreinasofia.es/sites/default/files/styles/ficha_actividad_exposicion/public/exposiciones/p9.jpg?itok=c1xEji9q)
As for the logistical problems: i) the catalogue was not ready for the opening of the show, and will only be available in January ::), and ii) the exhibition is in separate rooms on the second floor of the museum (where the permanent exhibition of 1900 - 1950 art is housed). The price of admission is included in the general ticket to the museum, but you have to say you want to see the Picasso exhibition (for which you get an allotted time window). Many people (Spaniards and foreigners) had not understood this, and were being turned away from the rooms in which the show was being held. Not a very clever system, I'm afraid.
Since the years around 1906 were also those of the saltimbanque etchings, and of several male nudes, some of the informative material posted on the walls mentioned "homoeroticism" and "gender fluidity" in Picasso's work of that time. A bit far fetched, TBH, and IMHO a misguided attempt to introduce a "queer perspective" into the appreciation of the artist's output (who, unfortunately, seems to be the victim of a —negative— reevaluation of his immense and titanic legacy due to a 21st century "rejection" of his personalty).
Quote from: ritter on November 18, 2023, 07:37:46 AMSince the years around 1906 were also this of the saltimbanque etchings, and of several male nudes, some of the informative material posted on the walls mentioned "homoeroticism" and "gender fluidity" in Picasso's work of that time. A bit far fetched, TBH, and IMHO a misguided attempt to introduce a "queer perspective" into the appreciation of the artist's output (who, unfortunately, seems to be the victim of a —negative— reevaluation of his immense and titanic legacy due to a 21st century "rejection" of his personalty).
I wonder what the notorious and unabashed womanizer Picasso would say about this. ;D
Quote from: Florestan on November 18, 2023, 07:45:00 AMI wonder what the notorious and unabashed womanizer Picasso would say about this. ;D
He probably wouldn't give a damn, but one never knows. ;D
But it seems to me that these days we are being expected to believe that precisely because he was a "notorious and unabashed womanizer" (plus the fact that his relationship with his female companions was "complicated", to put it mildly),
Picasso's stature as an artist is somehow diminished...
Good evening to you,
Andrei!
@ritter Bizarre that they didn't have the catalogue produced before the start of the exhibition. And sorry to hear that the system that they tried to have in place for the special exhibition didn't work. I would have thought that they would have something online and/or over the phone for signing up ahead of time? Years ago (back in the "dark ages"), I remember just standing in line waiting to go into the Met's special exhibition area (This was for one on Alexander The Great). Everyone just waited patiently.
PD
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on November 18, 2023, 08:09:44 AM@ritter Bizarre that they didn't have the catalogue produced before the start of the exhibition. And sorry to hear that the system that they tried to have in place for the special exhibition didn't work. I would have thought that they would have something online and/or over the phone for signing up ahead of time? Years ago (back in the "dark ages"), I remember just standing in line waiting to go into the Met's special exhibition area (This was for one on Alexander The Great). Everyone just waited patiently.
PD
Hi
PD! More than bizarre, I'd say the delay in publishing the catalogue is plain sloppy! ::) .
And the confusion concerning admission to the special exhibition area is doubly annoying if one considers that the museum is (including the extension by star architect
Jean Nouvel to the original 18th century building by
Sabatini —formerly Madrid's main hospital) large enough, and past exhibitions were clearly demarcated and signalled. I didn't have any problems, because I bought my ticket online with a specific admission time to the exhibition.
Cheers,
Quote from: ritter on November 18, 2023, 08:20:21 AMHi PD! More than bizarre, I'd say the delay in publishing the catalogue is plain sloppy! ::) .
And the confusion concerning admission to the special exhibition area is doubly annoying if one considers that the museum is (including the extension by star architect Jean Nouvel to the original 18th century building by Sabatini —formerly Madrid's main hospital) large enough, and past exhibitions were clearly demarcated and signalled. I didn't have any problems, because I bought my ticket online with a specific admission time to the exhibition.
Cheers,
Yes, unless somebody's printing business suddenly went bankrupt or other serious calamities. And this was for a major painter/anniversary/Spanish painter and exhibition in Spain. :( And you want the people who are bothering to go to the exhibition to be tempted to purchase one on the way out. ::) Anyway...
Hopefully, you enjoyed your time there.
Best wishes,
PD
Bellini is my latest discovery latest discovery in the National Gallery London -- the humanity of these things is astonishing
Circumcision
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Bellini-circumcision-NG1455-fm.jpg/1280px-Bellini-circumcision-NG1455-fm.jpg)
Agony in the Garden
(https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/media/32807/n-0726-00-000069-hd.jpg?rmode=max&width=1920&height=1080&rnd=132385442418500000)