Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Harris
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- 4 out of 5
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Editor Pick
The Met - Quiet Spaces: The Ladies of Sargent
- May 14, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Hun Ohm from small town, Massachusetts
Quiet Spaces: the Ladies of Sargent
By Hun Ohm
The Met has one of the most impressive collections of American art in the world. You can very easily spend your entire visit exploring the nooks and crannies of this wing, including the Henry R. Luce Center, where you will get a glimpse of the extraordinary wealth of works that are not currently on prominent display. The array is bewildering, and you will begin to understand just how much thought must go into the curatorial decision-making process.
The Ladies
That decision-making process is evident in the Frank A. Cosgrove, Jr. galleries, where a set of John Singer Sargent paintings have long held quiet court; a few cast members have recently been moved around or removed entirely, reflecting the give and take that goes on between world-class institutions as the curators put together shows that necessarily borrow from other collections’ holdings. Still, the remaining Sargent’s still fascinate—indeed, something about the luscious tones of Sargent’s oils have always pleased me, so it’s always a pleasant surprise to me to see how uncrowded this gallery of the Met can be; perhaps this is due to its "mezzanine" location, or maybe I just visit at odd hours. At any rate, if you’re lucky, you’ll have the room to yourself, free to admire for as long as your heart desires.
From one wall above the stairs, you will be greeted by an enormous portrait of "The Wyndham Sisters," (1899) three sisters in white gowns as luminous as clouds with a darkened background that connects the viewer (and the sisters and artist) to the past. You will also see the beautiful "Mrs. Hugh Hammersley" (1892), resplendent in a sumptuous magenta gown, perched on a sofa, her lively posture and slightly raised legs intimating that she may soon rise to greet the viewer. The frank graze and confident stances of "Lady with the Rose" is equally mesmerizing, what with the white rose contrasting with the deep black gown and bewitching rouge of cheek and lip that ensnares you in story.
The Necessary Missing
As noted above, curators must make tough decisions, and for better or for worse, two of the most exquisite paintings, the bold and defiant "Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Phelps Stokes" (1897) and the famously severe porcelain profile of "Madame X" (1883-84) are currently on loan to other museums; thus, you may find a few gents presiding amongst these fine ladies when you visit. This diminishes the cohesiveness and allure of the room in some respects; nevertheless, the presence of the Sargent men should not dissuade you from paying a visit, as they are tremendous works in their own right.
Located in the American Wing, mezzanine level.
Note: If you continue down to the first floor, you will be very close to the Frank Lloyd Wright room (see other entry), which is another must see in the American Wing.
From journal Quiet Spaces at the Met: A Short List
Editor Pick
The Met - Quiet Spaces: Asian Art Wing
- May 14, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Hun Ohm from small town, Massachusetts
Quiet Spaces: Asian Art Wing
By Hun Ohm
The Asian Art wing contains works from all across the continent and is well worth a visit. From exquisite celadon vases to imposing stone guardians, the collection is comprehensive and, though popular, not nearly as crowded other wings. Here are a couple of the quiet spaces that will transport you to another realm.
The Astor Court
Based off of a place known as the "Garden of the Master of the Fishing Nets" in Suzhou, this Ming scholar’s garden is a must. The walls, openings and flaring roofs expand the space dramatically. Limestone rock formations are placed carefully around the courtyard, accompanied by the sight and sound of falling water. These two contrasting elements are said represent a theme that permeates the Chinese artistic tradition (opposites balancing/opposites negating, etc.). On a clear day, when shafts of sunlight pour in through the skylights overhead, this wonderful oasis is an ideal spot to contemplate these notions of ying and yang, or past and present days, or whatever else might enter your thoughts. Running water, sunlight, bamboo -- what more could you ask for? Well, if you’re looking for further immersion, go into the reconstructed Ming room situated at the northern end of the gallery. Spend some time admiring the wood chests, couch tables, instruments, and roof beams. When you’re good and ready, take a seat beside the windows, peer out through the wood screens back toward the garden and tell me that you’re still in New York City.
The Nakashima Room
Located in the Sackler Wing Galleries, this dimly lit room is rather lightly occupied (it seems that people typically stroll through without stopping for long). Don’t fall for that temptation. George Nakashima believed a spirit dwelled in all natural things and endeavored to "find the God within" the wood, and you get a taste of that pursuit in this tranquil room. His works are elegant, simple, and celebrate the wood’s (black walnut, shaved hickory) unique grains and shapes. Furthermore, unlike most pieces in the museum, you can actually take a seat at the table, and there is something that is satisfying about the tactile experience of caressing what Nakashima described as the "satiny texture" of the wood’s grain. Be certain to check out the butterflies in the table that hold together the splits in the wood, and feel free to peruse the books or sit back and watch the videos on Japanese culture that play on a set of TV screens. On the far wall, a stunning view (the nose smudges on the glass are a telltale sign of the window’s allure) into the Temple of Dendur courtyard seals the deal. Note: If you have a car and the desire to see more works, make a trip out to Bucks County, PA, where Nakashima’s children still run the woodworking business complete with showroom.
Second Floor, Asian Art Wing, use the west (left) entrance.
From journal Quiet Spaces at the Met: A Short List
Metropolitan Museum of Art
- February 13, 2006
- Rated 4 of 5 by
artslover from Calgary, Alberta
The baggage check was very perfunctory and there were no lines to get into the museum. The Metropolitan Museum is huge and it's probably best if you decide what you want to see beforehand, because it would be impossible to see it all in one day or maybe even a week.
We saw the Temple of Dendor, a reassembled ancient Egyptian structure. We then went up to the rooftop sculpture garden (after struggling through the maze of halls to find the right elevator). The sculptures were very colourful in the bright sunshine and the view from the roof was worth the trouble to find it. We went to the American wing, which has a famous George Washington portrait, and viewed some of the European paintings and sculpture, which also includes many famous works, before looking at the modern wing. The collection of paintings is very impressive. It had, most notably, some of the few Vermeers outside of Europe. After 2hours, we barely made a dent in viewing the permanent collection.
From journal Enjoying Art, Theatre, and Food in Manhattan
Editor Pick
Metropolitan Museum of Art
- January 28, 2006
- Rated 4 of 5 by
ParadiseOTR from Melbourne, Australia
The Metropolitan is one of many museums in the uptown area around Central Park and one of a number on Fifth Avenue. It is well worth a look.
The building itself and its great position backing onto Central Park make it immediately attractive before you enter the building, and you certainly won't be disappointed upon entry into the awesome Great Hall.
Admission to the museum is by donation, and the figure is up to you, although the museum board suggests $15. If you can still your conscience (and we could), you can pay less to see the incredible permanent collection. We were lucky enough to see a great collection of Van Gogh's early sketches, drawings, and portraits. We paid $10 for a couple.
In the permanent collection, the highlights are so extensive, they really demand a good number of hours to fully appreciate them.
As a history buff, my personal highlights would have to be the Greek Sculpture Court and the European Sculpture Court, both light and airy areas that open out before you to allow full appreciation of the amazing works on offer. I was also stoked to see the Medieval Art collection, in particular the Arms and Armour Gallery, which houses a number of full suits of armour and an Equestrian Court of fully armoured horses with riders in full regalia.
Without a doubt, the absolute highlight of the permanent collection for me was the Egyptian Art collection. Complete with a number of sarcophagi and countless amulets and icons, the collection was worth the suggested donation on its own (and other museums would charge for it). Just around the corner was the Temple of Dendur, a fully reconstructed temple from Egypt housed in a giant gallery space and open to the public to get up close and inside the temple spaces! Incredible for anyone who hasn't been to Egypt--yet!
As mentioned above, the Met was housing a temporary display of Van Gogh's early sketches. Although by far the busiest part of the museum that day, it was arranged with ample space to carry the volume of visitors, and the chronological procession through VVG's work was stunning, despite the crowd.
Considering the calibre of the artist, I was amazed that the exhibit was included in the ticket price. So many museums worldwide would charge extra for a big-name artist, regardless of the quality of the collection. This was a significant and stunning display of Van Gogh's work, which would fetch considerable ticket prices most other places in the world, but here, in New York, it was open to the public.
For the permanent collection alone, the Met is worth a visit, even if history is not your thing. The Modern, American, or Costume collections will spark your interest. If the quality of the travelling exhibit is anything to go by, the Met is a must-see New York attraction.
From journal A First Taste of the Big Apple
Metropolitan Museum of Art
- January 17, 2006
- Rated 3 of 5 by
leonardmt from Roseville, California
This museum is a must-do. It has some wonderful pieces and is just part of the New York culture. I would recommend spending about 2 hours here because there is so much else to see.
From journal First trip to NYC