Visit to the Met
My daughter Jane and son Keith accompanied me to the Metropolitan Museum of Art the other day. Next to the Louvre, the Met is my favorite museum. I am going again in three weeks. The painting that struck me with the most force is Goya’s Group on a Balcony. It’s paintings like this that elevate
Art museums and technology
In their fierce competition for the vast pool of entertainment dollars, art museums are attempting to use technology to reinvent themselves. The theme-park-ization of museums is replete with interactive attractions and high-tech gewgaws. On the surface this sounds, if not exactly winning, reasonable. After all, what could be more natural for our (so-called) cultural leaders than to provide technological leadership as well.
van Gogh Repetitions
I plan on visiting the Cleveland Museum of Art’s exhibition van Gogh Repetitions later today. It will be my third visit to see it. The show has a number of first rate van Gogh’s and the theme–the artist copying himself–is interesting. I will write more about it later.
Return of an Old Friend
After a long and (for me) painful absence for conservation, Andrea del Sarto’s The Sacrifice of Isaac is once again on display at the Cleveland Museum of Art. del Sarto’s unfinished masterpiece from 1527 is on a massive wooden panel. The painting’s unfinished state opens a window into the artist’s studio, and shows us his working method. The
Lunch at the Cleveland Museum of Art
Due to the bad weather, the usually crowded Cleveland Museum of Art cafeteria was practically deserted today. The fare isn’t good enough to fight jostling lines, but today’s peace made the none-too-good food perfectly acceptable. Especially hungry, my designer salad was delicious, piled delightfully high with anchovies and blue cheese. After lunch, I did my
Cleveland Museum of Art finishes renovations
After 8 years and $350 million, the Cleveland Museum of Art has–finally!–completed its ambitious renovations. The long awaited (by me) opening of the new West Wing’s China, India and Southeast Asia collections means all collections are once again on view after the long hiatus. I am a fervent admirer of Asian art, especially painting, so I stomped
Cleveland Museum of Art 2013 Staff Exhibition
I attended the annual Cleveland Museum of Art Staff Exhibition the other day. Like last year, the show is in the museum’s lower level by the parking garage. Unlike last year when renovations forced traffic through this area, the exhibition space is now well off the beaten track. The quality–like last year–is uneven. Exhibitors come
Museum Etiquette
For me, standing in front of a painting is like listening to a concert or attending a play. I try to meet the artist on his terms and I open myself to the work to discover its secrets. Most of all, I enjoy looking at paintings; it gives me intense pleasure. So, if you see