History of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Originally founded in 1870, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is known to be the largest art museum in the United States and one of the most popular. According to the Museum’s website, the Museum and its offshoots present over five thousand years’ worth of historical artifacts. These artifacts range from paintings and Roman sculptures to Egyptian tombs and ancient mummies ("Metropolitan Museum of Art"). Despite its overall success, the Museum has still faced a number of challenges, many relating directly to the development of the city around it.
The Museum actually dates back to 1866, when a group of Americans, led by a lawyer named John Jay, gathered in Paris, France, to discuss creating a "national
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In 1874, the Museum purchased the Cesnola Collection of Cypriot art, a collection of artifacts and artwork from the Bronze Age to the end of the Roman period. This put the Museum on the map as a major art museum worthy of note. In the early 1900s, the Evening Post was pleased to report that the Metropolitan Museum of Art was "one of the finest in the world, and the only public building in recent years which approaches in dignity and grandeur the museums of the old world."(“About the Met”)
Today, visitors are able to view tens of thousands of artifacts, including twenty-six thousand ancient Egyptian artifacts, and enjoy lunch at the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden, a rooftop café and modern sculpture collection. The Museum is home to the largest collection of Egyptian art in the world outside of Egypt, including the Egyptian statuette that is now known as the Museum's unofficial mascot, "William.” The Museum also contains large collections such as Greek, Roman, and Japanese artifacts (“About the
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The buildings were destroyed and nearly 3,000 people were killed in what is still the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil ("FAQ about 9/11"). Despite the horrible attack, New York City managed to stay a major financial capital of the U.S. and known tourist hub. More than forty million tourists visit the city each year. Today, more than eight million people live in the five boroughs and the city is still a major cultural melting pot ("New York City").
Many, but not all, of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s challenges were the direct result of the heavily populated city around it. Over the years, the Museum has been forced to take measures against air pollution in particular. Visitors to the Museum will notice that many of the less durable artifacts have been placed in controlled cases.
Normal air pollution is not the only airborne issue the Museum has faced. In the weeks after the 9/11 attacks, the smoke and ash in the air were causing problems everywhere. The air quality was extremely poor, and artifacts that were exposed in any way were at risk of damage. The Museum has never stated what countermeasures were
If the above mentioned paintings do not sound intriguing, the Frick’s remarkable holdings also include works by David, Goya, Renoir, Bruegel, and Velasquez. However, its collection is not limited to paintings only as significant sculptures like Bernini’s “Head of an Angel” from 1655 and Clodion’s ”Zephyrus and Flora” from 1799 can be found there as well. Along with these sculptures, an extensive collection of Italian bronzes and eighteenth century furniture combine to create a museum which although is small in size compared to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, makes up for it with an extensive collection of carefully selected pieces from some of the world’s most renowned artists.
...nd museums around the world that highlight the latest trends in collecting and decorating with antiques.
The second place in St. Louis that is historically significant is the St. Louis Art Museum. The museum was founded in 1879. At this time it was named the St. Louis School and Museum of Fine arts. In 1906 it was reopened. All admission fees for the museum were terminated once the museum became a public place supported by taxes from the city of St. Louis.
“Art Museums and the Ritual of Citizenship.” in Exhibiting Cultures. Eds. Ivan Karp and Steven Lavine. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1991. Print.
With exhibitions of the most thought-provoking art, The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago is one of the Nation’s largest facilities devoted to the art of our time (“About the MCA”) . The mission of the MCA is to offer a direct experience to the public of modern day art and living artists. German architect Joseph Paul Kleihues designed the new building with seven times the square feet of its previous facility (“The Building”) . October of 1967 the museum opened its doors to the public for the first time. The Museum of Contemporary Art is a symbol of modern art, culture, and the artist of our time. It is a stepping stone in history and will leave footprints in the heart of Chicago for many generations to come.
One of my personal favorite days of this semester was the class trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It was a long journey to get there, especially with having to walk all the way from Penn Station, but it was a nice day so I couldn’t really complain. Plus, it was worth it because I love museums. The Met is absolutely beautiful, inside and out. I could not believe how big it was and how many galleries there actually were. I can’t wait to go back and see all of them! Our trip mostly focused upon Greek and Roman art, and I found it to be thoroughly interesting. There was so much to look at that I didn’t know where to start. I was in amazement at all of the pieces and the fascinating stories behind them. The two pieces that sparked my interest the most were the marble sarcophagus depicting the myth of Selene and Endymion and the Etruscan bronze chariot.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art came about as an idea from Jon Jay in Paris, France in 1866 with the idea of “national institution gallery of art” within the United States. Once this idea was proposed, it was immediately moved forward with his return to the United States. With the help of the Union League Club in NY they began to acquire civic leaders, businessmen, artists, and collectors who aided in the creation of the museum. For over 140 years, the visitors who go here have received everything the mission of the institution states.
In Stephen Weil’s essay, he argues “the museum’s role has transformed from one of mastery to one of service” (Weil, 196). According to him, museums have changed their mission from one that cultures the public to one that serves
“Introduction to Modern Art.” metmuseum.org. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 18 June 2009. Web. 25 Sep. 2009.
One pleasant afternoon, my classmates and I decided to visit the Houston Museum of Fine Arts to begin on our museum assignment in world literature class. According to Houston Museum of Fine Art’s staff, MFAH considers as one of the largest museums in the nation and it contains many variety forms of art with more than several thousand years of unique history. Also, I have never been in a museum in a very long time especially as big as MFAH, and my experience about the museum was unique and pleasant. Although I have observed many great types and forms of art in the museum, there were few that interested me the most.
The Natural History Museum is an extraordinary place to explore and learn. It’s fun and breathtaking! The museum served as an agricultural fairground from 1872 until 1910. The original structure of the building from the 1913 and today’s structure is a blend of many styles. Like a Spanish Renaissance ornamentation in the terracotta trim.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is truly special. It is quite reminiscent of Greek architecture, with a slight resemblence to the Parthenon. Corinthian columns are displayed along the back of the museum as well as along the center in the plaza area. At the southeastern entrance, fabulous sculptures of Greek Gods and Goddesses can be located adorning the pediment. Growing up, The Philadelphia Museum of Art was always one of my favorite places to view, even if we were just driving or walking by it. It is
The museum is run by the community not the state and is in a building that was once part of District Six. It is very appropriate to have a museum like this in post Apartheid South Africa so that people will never forget what happened during Apartheid and so that people who were affected by apartheid can tell others what happened.
A museum is “a building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited.” (dictionary.com). This is the literal definition of a museum as well as my view of them coming into my first semester of college. I believed they were boring, outdated places where historical items were displayed. As I moved through the semester, my professor helped me gain a new perspective of these remarkable museums; one of respect and astonishment. Museums are meant to aid in learning and safeguarding of things that should never be forgotten. Of the many great places I visited this semester that adjusted my feelings towards museums, the ones that had the greatest impact were The National Museum of Natural History, The Newseum, The National Gallery of Art, and The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. These places are there to remind the general public about things that should never be forgotten; they preserve the history and beauty of the world.
When analyzing the museum of the past, one must consider all facets including the surrounding artifacts, the enclosure, lighting, color, and the space itself. It is also important to understand the connection between these elements, as well as, the relationship of these displayed objects with the viewer. There has always been a tendency to afford such a space with a formal relevance. It is humankind’s innate cu...