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Nasher Museum at Duke

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vampirefan
vampirefan
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5 out of 5
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Editor Pick

Amazing Art…El Greco to Velazquez

  • October 6, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by vampirefan from Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina
Amazing Art…El Greco to Velazquez


For a few more weeks, the Nasher Museum, will be hosting the incredible and prestigious El Greco to Velazquez: Art during the reign of Phillip III. Many of these painting have been around for more than 400 years, and yet they still look as beautiful as when the artist put paint to the canvas.

Luckily for me a few weeks before our trip I was watching our local PBS show NC Weekend which keeps me informed of all the things happing in NC. It was there that I discovered this one-in-a-lifetime collection. It was quickly added to our itinerary.

This is the first exhibit of this kind that highlights both Spanish masters as well as their less known contemporaries. The exhibit contains 53 paintings and amongst those are 7 by El Greco and 3 by Velázquez. Visitors will also see works by their colleagues that include Jan Sanchez, Cotan, Gregiorio Fernandez, Juan Bautista Maino, and Louis Tristan. In addition to these breathtaking masterpieces, museum goers will discover alter pieces, carved sculptures of Spanish mystics, and 50 pieces of Spanish glass and ceramics.

The exhibit covers the Spanish Golden Age which ran from 1598-1621 when Philip III ruled Spain. During his reign the Duke of Lerma massed a large collection of art. The Duke built or restored 5 palaces and added monasteries, convents, and churches and then set about to decorate them with his collection. The Duke and Phillip utilized local artists and formed a local school that would provide the beginnings of the Golden Age.

The collected works includes portraits as well as still life, but the majority of the art is devoted to religious pieces. This show was just wonderful. These artists pull the visitors into their world. In the religious art we feel the pain depicted, as many of these works focus on the death and resurrection of Christ. The statues awe and inspire and cross all religious boundaries to include those who claim no religious belief. One can take in the masters strokes as they still look and fresh and beautiful as they day the artist sat down to work on his masterpiece. They give as a glimpse into the often hard life during the turn of the 17th century. One painting which is of Philip's children, Alfonso and Ana Margarita reminds art fans of the reality of life during this period. The picture is a death painting of Alonso as he did before the painting and young Ana only lived 7 years. You can’t help but to be haunted by their fate and that of their mother who died during childbirth. Amongst my favorites were the intricate and lovely glass works and ceramics. These pieces would look at home in any contemporary home. For those such as myself who were unfamiliar with these works (my knowledge is more of the French masters such as Monet and Degas) it is a great introduction to this often overlooked period.

This exhibit was collaboration between the Boston Fine Arts Museum and the Nasher Museum. Many of these items have never left Spain before and a number of them are on loan from the churches that commissioned the work. Can you imagine sitting every Sunday and getting to gaze on such works? The display was first presented in Boston from April and July and now Nasher has it until November 9th.

For more information you can go to http://nasher.duke.edu/elgreco/learn.php.

Thanks to the tremendous work of a lot of people an up to now often ignored period in art history has now been discovered by many. The chance to just stand inches away from such beauty and history is one I will never forget.


From journal 2 Days in Durham

Editor Pick

A Duke University Gem, The Nasher Museum

  • October 6, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by vampirefan from Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina
A Duke University Gem, The Nasher Museum



Duke University has plenty to be proud of. For one thing it is one of the top universities in the county. They also have the Duke Medical center, the Duke Lemur Center, Duke Chapel, and the Sarah P Duke Garden. Since 2005 they have had the Nasher Museum of Art. And all open to the public to enjoy as well.

The museum was founded by Texas businessman and 1943 graduate Raymond D. Nasher. He was one of the country’s leading art collectors and the museum began from many of his collections. The museum was dedicated October 2005 and was designed by architect Rafael Vinoly. The 65,000 square foot building contains 3 large galleries as well as a community classroom.

The museums permanent collection contains a collection of both modern art as well as ancient antiquities. There are things like a big man’s head that makes you wonder if it is art or a prop in the next biggest Hollywood horror movie. There is a massive thing of black flowers which would have Martha Stewart wincing. Until January 18, 2009 there is an interesting exhibit: Black Mirror. Pedro Lash installed dark glass and faced some of the museums pre-Columbian art facing the glass, allowing visitors to see the sculptures in the reflection of the dark glass. Once I made my way past the modern art, I was in pure museum heaven.

There are more than 60 ancient Mediterranean antiquities that range from 2800 BCE to 30 CE. They include vases, sculptures, jewelry, and paintings. They are grouped into six areas:

1. Bronze Before Greece circa 3300-1100 BCE
2. Bronze Age without end circa 11,000-700 BCE
3. Women, beauty, and adornment
4. Death and the funeral
5. Gods and sacrifice
6. Greek Mixer-symposia and drinking games

Currently the museum is only one of 2 museums in the country chosen to host the prestigious and significant El Greco to Velazquez: Art during the reign of Phillip III . Past exhibits have included Barkley Littendricks: Birth of Cool, States of Mind: Dan and Lisa Perjovschi, and The Rape of Sabine Woman. I can’t wait to see what they have in store next.

Hours/admission/information

Hours: closed Monday
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10 am to 5 pm
Thursday 10 am to 10 pm
Sunday noon to 5 pm

Closed July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and day, and New Years.

Admission:
$5 (a) $ 4 (s/Duke alumni), $3 (students), children 16 and under free as well as to Duke students and Durham residents.

Some exhibits such as the El Greco may carry a separate admission.

Parking: There is a parking lot on the grounds and there may be a fee for some events.

Website: www.nasher.duke.edu

There is a gift shop on the premises and some exhibits (such as El Greco) may have their own gift shop. There is a café on the premises and my goodness the menu here belongs in a 4 star restaurant! Not your typical café food. There is indoor and outdoor seating and the outdoor seating overlooks the gorgeous sculpture garden. Throughout the year they hold a number of lectures, classes, and other events which are open to the general public. They do have rental facilities for your next big shin dig. The museum is accessible to all patrons.

As you can see by the photos, you can photograph the permanent collection. You will have to sign a waive stating that it is for your own personal use. I did ask if I could use them on the website and was told yes. They mainly don’t want you selling them to a magazine or something to that effect. They even asked if I could send the link when it was on the website!

No matter if you’re proudly dropping off your baby at their new home for the next 4 years or simply visiting this great city, you have to come and stroll these stunning grounds at Duke. Then take in the marvelous Nasher Museum.


From journal 2 Days in Durham

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