Yes, my trip was to visit Museums....four to be exact. Two in the Hartford area, two in New Haven.
The Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, offers free admission the second Saturday of each month. Currently a Caravaggio exhibit; and a site-specific project based on text and images of a fictional bid for U S Congress.
 |
| A Monet haystack painting at Hill-Stead, in Farmington, CT |
Our second Museum of the day was in Farmington. Hillstead Museum. Private home that is open to the public, that exhibits paintings of Manet, Monet, Whistler as they were enjoyed by the owners, still in their original settings ....a relaxing country house owned by a wealthy art patron, but amazingly livable for today.
At New Haven....in addition to touring the Yale Campus we visited the Yale Center for British Art and Yale University Art Gallery. Both great palces to spend quality time.
British Art featured 'Edwardian Opulence' of the 20th Century.
The Yale University Gallery...five levels..had a fascinating exhibit..Societe Anonyme, Inc.
An organization founded in 1920, first experimental Museum to foster Contemporary Art.
It was exciting to see the actual work of art, that one normally sees in a textbook. The difference is worth the drive.
As the semester draws to a close....this month is busy travel month for me.
From Connecticut , I go Maine, from Maine I fly to Seattle, WA. Return to a conference in Albany, NY, and a conference at the Cape. By mid-May, I'll be Museumed out and tired.
In the meantime, enjoy the conclusion of this semester. Fulfill your assignments, and lastly, enjoy the good weather.
I would have enjoyed a Caravaggio exhibit, his work is truly breathtaking. I love his pieces especially the story behind the piece titled Saint Matthew and the Angel. The story really defines art in the 1600s and the lack of freedom artists had over the pieces they created. It’s a marvelous piece representing Saint Matthew writing the Gospel under the guidance of an angel. Caravaggio was commissioned by the Contarelli Chapel to create this piece though after completion they rejected the painting. They believed that the scene was to intimate, it was inappropriate for the angel to be reaching carelessly over Saint Matthew guiding his hand. Also, Saint Matthew was not an accurate representation of one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus, he looked to be an ordinary man baring regular clothes and not a prominent religious figure. Caravaggio had to replace Saint Matthew and the Angel with a more glorifying representation, so he created The Inspiration of Saint Matthew. Both pieces are breathtaking though I do enjoy Saint Matthew and the Angel more. I like the intimacy of the piece, the feeling behind it, the colors blend smoothly and the contour of the lines curve realistically. There’s warmth in the piece and balance. The differences are apparent and define art in the 1600s.
ReplyDelete