Archive for the ‘Art Museums’ Category

Protect And Preserve Valuable Art With High Standard Framing

Monday, July 11th, 2011

Artwork does not have to have a high monetary value for it to be valuable. Artwork can also have a high sentimental value to the owner for it to warrant the best care possible. In fact, any artwork that has a high value, whether monetary or sentimental, deserves the best care possible in order for the art to be protected and preserved for future generations to admire and enjoy. However, protecting artwork can be difficult, especially within the home environment. There are so many different things that can cause irreversible and significant damage to works of art. These include airborne pollutants, acids, insects that can cause damage, physical and mechanical damage, humidity in the air and UV light in particularly bright rooms. For this reason, many art owners have chosen wisely to invest in museum standard framing for their beloved pieces of art.

Despite the name, museum standard framing is available to anyone who wants to protect and preserve a piece of artwork with the highest quality framing possible. This type of framing can be used for any piece of art, not simply art that is to be hung on display in a museum. In normal hanging conditions, museum standard framing has the ability to keep any piece of art at the highest quality standard for up to thirty-five years. This type of high quality framing can protect a piece of art from the common causes of deterioration, both of quality and of value, such as airborne pollutants, humidity and UV light. Once the decision to invest in this high quality framing service has been made there are a number of other considerations to take into account.

Although there will no doubt be many professionals able to give experienced advice on the best options for each piece of art it is wise to research the different options available to each art owner when investing in this high level of framing. Depending on where a piece of art is displayed, different types of glass are used to provide the best protection possible for each piece of art. For example, ultra violet glass is used with pieces of art that are hung in particularly bright rooms and run the risk of becoming damaged by harmful UV rays. Acrylic glass also provides this UV protection but is more economical. Anti-reflective glass is virtually undetectable in certain types is light and means that viewers can truly appreciate the raw beauty of a piece of art without becoming distracted by reflections. However, regardless of which type of frame is chosen, it is undeniable that museum standard framing is vital for any art lover with a valuable piece of art that needs to be protected and preserved. This high quality of framing can provide peace of mind to any art owner that their beloved pieces have the best protection and care possible and will be protected in all of their glory, ready for future generations to enjoy and to admire.

This post was written by R. Deans on behalf of Ironbridge Fine Arts And Framing, experts in museum standard framing. For more info on museum standard framing please visit ironbridgeframing.co.uk

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100 Best Important Art Works Influencing Contemporary Art By The World Museums Society

Sunday, March 28th, 2010


This is the list of 100 of the Best Art Works of the World Museums Society. This list of the best 100 famous and important artworks was chosen from a huge selection of the great works of the last five centuries. There is a real cross-section of art work listed here from many countries.

Contemporary Art Gallery Magazine asked the World Museums Society to create a list of famous artworks from the great world art museums based on their importance and influence on contemporary art. The best 100 selections of these important works of art was compiled by voting members of the WMS.

1) Bosch – The Garden of Delights (1504) – Prado, Madrid

2) Michelangelo: Il Giudizio Universale/ Universal Judgement (1541) – Cappella Sistina, Roma

3) Dali: Persistence of Memory (1931) – Museum of Modern Art, New York

4) Klimt: The Virgin (1913) – National Gallery, Prague

5) Botticelli: Allegoria della Primavera (1478) – Uffizi, Firenze

6) Monet: Nimphee (1926) – Orangerie, Paris

7) Leonardo: Il Cenacolo/ The Last Supper (1497) – S.Maria delle Grazie, Milano

8) Rubens: Fall of the Damned/ Der Hollensturz der Verdammten

9) Van Gogh: Starry Night (1889) – Museum of Modern Art, New York

10) Raffaello: Sposalizio della Vergine (1504) – Piancoteca di Brera, Milano

11) Dali: Soft Construction with Boiled Beans (1936) – Museum of Art, Philadelphia

12) Bruegel: Triumph of Death (1562) – Prado, Madrid

13) Greco: Toledo (1599) – Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

14) Seurat: La Parade du Cirque (1888) – Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

15) Rembrandt: Militia Company (1642) – Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam

16) Van Eyck: Madonna in the Church (1425) – Gemaldegalerie, Berlin

17) Leonardo: Gioconda/ Mona Lisa (1505) – Louvre, Paris

18) Rousseau: Sleeping Gypsy (1897) – Museum of Modern Art, New York

19) Greco: La Crucifixion (1594) – Prado, Madrid

20) Altdorfer: The Battle of Alexander the Great (1529) – Alte Pinakothek, Munchen

21) Klee: Ad Marginen (1930) – Kunstmuseum, Basel

22) Rembrandt: Belshazzar’s Feast (1635) – National Gallery, London

23) Rubens: St Agustine, National Gallery, Prague

24) Renoir: Bal du Moulin de la Galette (1876) – Musee National d’Orsay, Paris

25) Goya: Aquelarre/ Il Grande Caprone (1821) – Prado, Madrid

26) Chagall: I and the Village (1911) – Museum of Modern Art, New York

27) Magritte: Specchio Falso (1928) – Museum of Modern Art, New York

28) Millet: Harvesters Resting (1853)

29) Veronese: Nozze di Cana (1563) – Louvre, Paris

30) Velasquez: Las Hilanderas (166?) – Prado, Madrid

31) Caravaggio: Davide/ Galea (1607) – Kunsthistorische Muzeum, Wien

32) Rubens: Feast of Venus/ Vennsfest (1637) – Kunsthistorische Muzeum, Wien

33) Vermeer: The Astronomer (1668) – Louvre, Paris

34) Schiele: Death and the Maiden (1915) – Belvedere, Wien

35) Cezanne: Le Mont Saint Victoire (1906) – Museum of Art, Philadelphia

36) Klee: Landschaft mit dem Gelben Kirchturm (1920) – Staatsgalerie Moderner Kunst, Munchen

37) Leonardo: Vergine delle Rocce I (1486) – Louvre, Paris

38) Rousseau: Virgin Forest at Sunset (1907) – Kunstmuseum, Basel

39) Tintoretto: Miracolo dello Schiavo (1548) – Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venezia

40) Ernst: Antipope (1942) – Guggenheim, New York

41) Botticelli: Miracolo di San Zenobio (1500) – National Gallery, London

42) Picasso: Three Musicians (1921) – Museum of Modern Art, New York

43) Miro`: Hunter, Museum of Modern Art, New York

44) Matisse: Dance (1909) – Museum of Modern Art, New York

45) Braque: Violin and Palette (1910) – Guggenheim, New York

46) Klee: Fischzauber (1925) – Museum of Art, Philadelphia

47) Duchamp: Nude Descending a Staircase #3 (1916) – Museum of Art, Philadelphia

48) Van Gogh: Sunflowers (1888) – Museum of Art, Philadelphia

49) Kokoshka: Der Irrende Ritter (1915) – Guggenheim, New York

50) Murillo: Nascita di S. Giovanni Battista, Norton Simon, Pasadena

51) Renoir: Bal a Bougival (1883) – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

52) Manet: Esecuzione dell’Imperatore Massimiliano (1867) – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

53) Manet: Olympia (1863) – Musee National d’Orsay, Paris

54) Monet: Water Lilies I (1905) – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

55) Leger: Acrobat at the Circus, Museum fur Gegenwartskunst, Basel

56) Hodler: Der Tag (1899) – Kunstmuseum, Bern

57) Munch: The Scream (1893) – Nasjonalgalleriet, Oslo

58) Altdorfer: Rest on the Flight to Egypt (1510) – Gemaldegalerie, Berlin

59) De Hooch: The Mother (1660) – Gemaldegalerie, Berlin

60) Steen: St Nicholas Eve (1660) – Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

61) Rembrandt: Man in Oriental Costume (1635) – Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

62) Rembrandt: The Betrayal of Peter (1660) – Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

63) Rembrandt: Philemon and Baucis (1658) – Washington, National Gallery

64) Rembrandt: Landscape with Bridge (1636) – Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

65) Vermeer: Kitchen Maidservant (1660) – Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

66) Marc: Stables (1914) – Guggenheim, New York

67) Hals: I reggenti dell’Ospizio dei Poveri (1664) – Hals Museum, Harleem

68) Carpaccio: S. Giorgio in Lotta con il Drago (1507)

69) Bellini: Pala di San Giobbe (1487) – Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venezia

70) Pisanello: Partenza di San Giorgio (1438) – Sant’Anastasia, Verona

71) Boccioni: La Citta` che Sale (1910) – Museum of Modern Art, New York

72) Chagall: Dedie a Ma Fiance (1911) – Kunstmuseum, Bern

73) Chagall: Le Soldat Boit (1912) – Guggenheim, New York

74) Kandinskij: Einige Kreise (1926) – Guggenheim, New York

75) Rousseau: Jouers de Football (1908) – Guggenheim, New York

76) Leger: Le Grand Dejeuner/ Three Women (1921) – Museum of Modern Art, New York

77) Delaunay: St Severin (1909) – Guggenheim, New York

78) Ernst: La Grande Foret (1927) – Museum fur Gegenwartskunst, Basel

79) Picasso: Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907) – Museum of Modern Art, New York

80) Picasso: Night Fishing at Antibes (1939) – Museum of Modern Art, New York

81) Van Dyck: Crowning of Thorns – Prado, Madrid

82) Tiziano: Venere, Amore e Organista – Prado, Madrid

83) Leonardo: Annunciazione (148?) – Uffizi, Firenze

84) Perugino: La Consegna delle Chiavi (1482) – Cappella Sistina, Roma

85) Giorgione: Tre Filosofi (1508) – Kunsthistorisches Museum, Wien

86) Grunewald: St Erasmus und St Maurice (1523) – Alte Pinakothek, Munchen

87) Gauguin: Where Have We Come From (1897) – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

88) Gauguin: Mahana No Atua/ Day of the God (1894) – Art Institute, Chicago
an dMuseum of Art, New York
89) Greco: Bautismo de Cristo (1596) – Prado, Madrid

90) Van Eyck: The Fountain of Grace (1429) – Prado, Madrid

91) Picasso: Guernica (1937) – Museum of Modern Art, New York

92) Leonardo: Epifania, Uffizi, Firenze

93) Ghirlandaio: Vecchio e Nipote, Louvre, Paris

94) Van Gogh: Selfportrait (1887) – Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

95) Carpaccio: Disputa del Sinedrio (1514) – Brera, Milano

96) Pissarro: Verger a Pontoise (1872) – Musee National d’Orsay, Paris

97) Toulouse-Lautrec: Moulin Rouge (1892) – Art Institute, Chicago

98) Delacroix: La Mort de Sardanapal (1827) – Louvre, Paris

99) Degas: Dance Class (1874) – Louvre, Paris

100) Gericault: The Raft of the Medusa (1819) – Louvre, Paris

This list of 100 of the Favorite Art Works of the World Museums Society has a cross-section of art work from several centuries and many countries. If you are intersted in contemporary art please see the links below. The WMS voted these to be the best of important and influential art works from the world museums.

By: Tia Marks

About the Author:
Tia Marks, Executive-Editor, Contemporary Art Gallery Magazine Contemporary Art Gallery Magazine Art Now Abstract Painting



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Exploring the Galleries and Museums of Cancun

Monday, January 4th, 2010


Though some people assume that Cancun is full of nothing but overpriced souvenirs, there are plenty of great values to be found. Some of the best bargains in Cancun – for both entertainment and distinctive souvenirs – are provided by the vibrant local art community. Art is everywhere you look in Cancun. Wherever you travel in the Hotel Zone or downtown Cancun, you will spot artists selling their work on busy street corners or in outdoor markets. Meanwhile, the galleries of Cancun represent both the best work of the region and internationally-recognized artists. Regardless of your budget, you will be able to find the right piece to add to your collection in Cancun.

One of the most popular places to view the fruits of creative labor is Cancun’s folk art museum, known locally as Museo de Arte Popular Mexicano. Located on the second floor of El Embarcadero Marina in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, the folk art museum showcases everything from traditional Mexican masks and costumes to religious artifacts and handmade toys. With nearly 15,000 square feet of exhibition space, the museum is able to tell many stories about both the local culture and the history of the Mexican people. Besides all of the artistic objects on display, the onsite gift shop is also a great place to shop for locally made oddities. Furthermore, the folk art museum provides a fun and affordable nighttime activity, remaining open to the public until at least 9 pm each day.

Some of the best places to shop for art in Cancun are the large shopping centers located throughout the Hotel Zone. The best selection of both commercial art galleries and individual vendors is at the sprawling Plaza Kukulcan. Known primarily for its number of upscale clothing and jewelry stores, Plaza Kukulcan is also a bustling art marketplace. In the common areas of the shopping center, local artists are allowed to display their work and sell directly to the public every day. On any given day, you will be able to find artists selling everything from handmade jewelry and crafts to pottery and oil paintings.

Plaza Kukulcan is also the place to find the work of renowned local artist Sergio Bustamante. Represented in Cancun by the Xaman-Ek Galleries, Bustamante’s uniquely surrealistic work is collected worldwide. Though he trained as an architect in Mexico, Bustamante has spent years combining his Chinese and Indian influences with the Mexican art tradition. The result is a body of sculpture and ceramics exhibiting a distinctive sense of humor, spiritually guided realism and superior workmanship. With additional locations at Plaza Caracol and La Isla, the Xaman-Ek Galleries also sell all types of locally-made products including jewelry, painting and folk art sculpture.

As you tour the galleries and museums of Cancun, you can also expect to see work inspired by the ancient Mayan culture. As the city is located amongst scores of ancient ruins in the heart of the Mayan Riviera, the imagery of the ancient civilization has always found its way into local museums and galleries. For souvenir hunters and art collectors, some of the most sought after items in Cancun are the expert reproductions of Mayan artwork. One such artist working in this style is painter and Mayan scholar Miguel Castro. Known for his masterful reproductions of Mayan paintings, Castro also uses traditional tools and methods to create his pieces.

Before venturing out in search of galleries and local artwork, check the local guides available at your hotel or resort. Besides offering descriptions of individual galleries and providing directions, many publications detail the most current exhibitions. If you are hoping to find a specific type of artwork at one of the outdoor markets, ask your concierge for suggestions; they often know where the best artists sell their products.

By: Justin Burch

About the Author:
Justin Burch writes articles about travel in Cancun and Mexico tourism for the Marriott Resorts.



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Massachusetts Attractions – The Springfield Museums

Friday, January 1st, 2010


The Springfield Museums are located at 21 Edwards Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. It consists of four world class museums which are:

o Museum of Fine Arts

o George Walter Smith Art Museum

o Springfield Science Museum

o Connecticut Valley Historical Museum

The Museums Association is home to the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden, which is a series of full-scale bronze sculptures of Dr. Seuss’s whimsical creations.

There is one admission price to enjoy all four Springfield Museums and the Dr. Seuss Park. There are permanent collections and galleries. They also host major traveling art, history and science exhibitions. There will always be something new.
A few facts about the Springfield Museums in Massachusetts include:

o It is home to the Seymour Planetarium, which is the oldest operating planetarium in the United States.

o The ashes of George Walter Vincent Smith and his wife, Belle Townsley Smith, are inside one of the walls on the second floor of the Museum

o The Museum of Fine Arts has the largest permanent collection of Currier & Ives prints in the world.

o Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is the only one that exists to honor Theodor Geisel

The four Springfield Museums and the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden offer endless adventures in arts, sciences, and history. If you are a member, you can enjoy visit after visit. Membership gives unlimited opportunities to explore the Springfield Museums.

Weekend Family Fun Events

Programs include:

o A performance

o Art and science demonstration

o Hands-on craft workshops

All activities are designed to highlight holidays, special exhibitions, cultural traditions and topics to appeal to children.

Family Science Adventures

The museums feature ongoing, drop-in activities that allow families to experience together the wonders of scientific discovery. An example of an activity might be of a “roving scientist” who presents “hair-raising” electricity demonstrations using a Van de Graaff generator. You might want to experiment with chemical reactions, the physical properties of light and electrical circuits in the Science Discovery Laboratory.

Hasbro Games Art Discover Center Activities

The Art Discovery Center in the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum is the setting for participatory activities. Children can try on costumes and armor, find their sign in the Chinese Zodiac and create make-it and take-it art projects.

School Vacation Week Programs

In December, February and April, the Springfield Museums are open extended hours. Children and families are invited to participate in a range of activities that may include:

o Children’s theater

o Puppet shows

o Magic programs

o Art-making workshops

o Planetarium shows

o Storytelling

o Science demonstrations

o Live animal programs

Birthday Parties

Birthday parties are unique at the Springfield Museums. They offer two-hour birthday parties for children ages 4 – 12 on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The parties are led by an experienced instructor in a private, decorated room. Activity themes include:

o Amazing Animals

o Dynamic Dinosaurs

o Journey Into Space

o On the Loose with Dr. Seuss

o Asian Art Adventures

Group Tours

If you desire a personalized exploration of the Springfield Museums and the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden, they can arrange a group tour for you. The tours can be arranged for you to discover their collections and exhibits on your own or with a trained docent.

Tours are paced to accommodate your schedule. Picnics can be enjoyed on the Quadrangle Green. Enjoy exploring the universe in their Seymour Planetarium, shopping in their Museum store or just enjoying your group’s company.

Host Your Event

The Springfield Museums can host your special events. They accommodate small groups and larger functions. A Special Events Coordinator can help you choose a location in one of the four stellar Museums or outside on the private lawns, surrounded by whimsical Dr. Seuss sculptures. They can host events from private cocktail receptions to full scale dinners and conference meeting rooms and streamline your event from start to finish. Their amenities include:

o Full cocktail bars

o Outdoor tents

o Music and live entertainment

o Photographers

o Valet parking for guests

o Private lectures by esteemed Museum Directors

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World’s Most Famous Art Museums

Friday, April 10th, 2009


Famous art museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art have one of the largest collections of art under one roof. Located in New York City’s Museum Mile area, it has over two million works of art within its permanent collection, which is split into 19 sections of interest.

The Met’s American paintings section also has one of their earliest sculptures from 1870 on display. Hiram Power’s California was one of the first pieces that inspired them to focus building the museum around American art. Over the years, the Met has built its collection of art that covers many areas. Their art section features paintings by Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Van Gogh amongst its 11,000 paintings on hand. They have also built sections featuring Asian Art, American Decorative Art, and Arms and Armory as some of the many sections that they feature.

The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles is a privately-run museum that has a wide collection of European art, Greek and Roman sculptures, and classic drawings. The museum also has an extensive collection of American photography collection, which is one of the only areas within its museum that focuses on American areas of interest. There is also a research center that was opened in 1985, where a staff researches information about the artifacts that exist and makes sure that the information being presented can be used in publications and workshops for presentation purposes.

The Musee du Louvre in France is one of the oldest, famous and most visited museums in the world. Known as a place where artists were allowed to showcase their art since the early days in the 1700s. The museum was formally opened in 1750, and much of France’s much neglected artists were allowed to present their works in this museum. They have owned collections of famous artists like Rembrandt and Da Vinci for years and have them up on display to the public.Visitors can view some of the favorite famous pieces, like the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa, which has called the Louvre home for centuries.

The Louvre has over 380,000 pieces of art within its collection. It showcases 35,000 works spanning over eight curatorial departments in its current rotation. One of its highlights is the collection of 11,900 paintings on display. The museum also hosts exhibits on archeology, sculptures and objet d’art. They also have a permanent gallery showing large holdings of furniture, including the Bureau du Roi by Jean Henri Riesener.

By: Mark Traston

About the Author:
Mark Traston is an associate with Portrait Painting. The company specializes in turning a photo to painting. Each portrait artist specializes in a specific area including wedding paintings, pet portraits, and executive portraits



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Marvelous Galleries and Museums in Murcia

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009


A Spanish holiday would not be complete without exploring the culture preserved in galleries and museums. These displays of the nation’s history and people speak volumes about the land. When enjoying a stay in La Manga, it’s well worth a trip to some of the region’s museums to view these cultural artifacts.

One such museum is the Ceutimagina Science and Art Center. It is located in Ceuti and is close to the La Manga resort area. In addition to its tourist appeal, the museum is a favorite destination for local schools because of its exciting learning environment.

Since it opened in 2004, the Ceutimagina Science and Art Center has presented the works of such notables as Francisco Goya and Salvador Dali. Other exhibits have spotlighted mathematics, optical illusions and music.

Of course, no family museum would be complete without space devoted to dinosaurs, monsters and various myths. The Center has included all of these as featured exhibitions. The museum is a hands-on facility where visitors can use their senses to experience the world. The Center also holds workshops on various topics to provide more in-depth coverage.

The Ceutimagina Science and Art Center was once a canned foods manufacturing facility. The architect Fernando de Retes transformed it into the beautiful structure it is today. The Center has five exhibition halls and hosts exhibitions from around the world each year. The programming is changed every four to five months to ensure fresh experiences.

Another place to visit in the region is the Museo Minero, or Mining Museum. This museum offers visitors a chance to view mining tools and mineral displays. It also has scale models of mining sites and projects and houses resources that shed light on the history of mining in the Murcia region.

The Museum of Fine Arts is the major art gallery in the region. It houses Spanish art from the 16th century to today, including paintings by Hernando de Llanos and Pedro de Orente and works by the sculptor Jose Planes.

Of local significance is the City Museum, located in the Lopez Ferrer House. Visitors to the museum can learn about the different eras of the Murcia region’s past. It has three halls for permanent displays, as well as one hall that houses temporary and visiting exhibitions.

The Ramon Gaya Museum is in the Casa Palarea, a Murcian-style mansion. The museum contains sketches, literary works, posters and retrospectives of painter Ramon Gaya’s work.

The Salzillo Museum contains the works of the famous Murcian sculptor Francisco Salzillo. In operation since 1969, the museum showcases Salzillo’s excellent representations of 17th century religious sculpture. The museum has original sketches and more than 550 figures of the Nativity scenes carved by Salzillo and his aides. These works began the tradition of Nativity scene artistry in Murcia.

One other museum you may want to visit during your holiday in La Manga is the Ethnological Museum of the Huerta. This museum is dedicated to the popular traditions and arts of Murcia. It is an ideal place to learn more about the everyday way of life in the region.

A Spanish holiday in the resort area of La Manga offers great apartments, villas and luxury resorts. These become home bases from which to explore nearby towns and attractions. The entire region of Murcia has a great variety of galleries and museums that give a taste of Spain’s past and present. They can make a Spanish vacation that much more interesting and exciting.

By: Michael J Lee

About the Author:
The La Manga Club Resort is one of the worlds great holiday vacation and leisure resorts and offers over 2000 luxury Spanish Holiday Villas set on 1500 acres of breathtaking Spanish countryside. La Manga Resort has activities for the whole family including, golf tennis, horse riding, cycling, beaches, children’s club etc.

If you would like to receive the La Manga Resort Guide and have the chance to Win a Free Holiday for one week for 4 people to La Manga Club please visit the website.



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An Inside Look at Five of Austin’s Top Museums

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008


Austin, Texas, is well known for its nightlife, but there is plenty to do during daylight hours, too. With a wide variety of museums and cultural centers catering to most every interest, Austin provides visitors and residents alike with countless options for cultural outings. Here is a closer look at five of Austin’s best.

1)Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum
Dedicated in 1971, the Lyndon B. Johnson presidential library and museum houses the single greatest collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the life and presidency of our nation’s 36th president, including documents, photographs, clothing and automobiles. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum also houses traveling exhibits on American culture and lifestyle. Located on the edge of the University of Texas campus, the museum is open daily (except Christmas day) from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and admission is free.

2)Austin Children’s Museum
The Austin Children’s Museum, located downtown at the Dell Discover Center, was founded in the early 1980s by a grassroots coalition of parents and educators striving to equip and inspire the next generation of creative problem solvers. With more than 12,000 square feet of museum space, the Austin Children’s Museum houses a wealth of interactive, thought-provoking displays and exhibits designed to get kids working together and thinking outside the box. In addition to the permanent exhibits, the museum also offers rotating exhibits and community programs to further engage young and old visitors alike

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The Vatican Museums – Every Visitor to Rome Must See This Amazing Art Showcase

Monday, July 14th, 2008


We could use all of the time we have to discuss the Vatican Museums just listing the vast number of galleries and museums that make up this big collection of art showcases. And if we tried to list the number of artists and great works of art you can find in the Vatican Museums, it would fill a book! In fact, there are such books in the Vatican library that catalog every work this important collection owns and when and where they are on display.

It was Pope Julius II who in 1506 started the Vatican’s collection of great art with his purchase of the sculpture Laocoon and his sons as they battle a mighty sea creature. From there, the Vatican collection has grown to dozens of galleries and museums and to literally thousands of works of fine art.

One of the many Museums in the Vatican community of art is the Etruscan Museum that was established in 1837. Despite the older date to us, this collection is one of the youngest in the Vatican family and holds many ancient works that were excavated in southern Etruria and surrounding vicinities and brought to Rome to be on display. The artwork of Etruria resembles the ancient mosaics and historic sarcophagi of Egypt that were collected at the height of the Roman Empire.

Another wonderful collection is the Gallery of Tapestries which consists of wall hangings from the fifteenth century forward to the seventeenth century. The first time these weaves were put on display was in 1814 and their artistry is so exquisite that any great museum in the world would welcome them to their collections.

The variety of the Vatican Museums continues at the Gallery of Maps. Painted directly on the gallery walls are 40 panels representing regions of the world in map form. These maps are both very artistic and fascinating as well. It’s interesting to reflect that these kinds of location tools came before GPS and other modern toys we use and they were the only means the explorers that ventured out from Italy found many of the lands of the new world.

The Raphael Rooms are not to be missed if you are scheduling some time to see the Vatican Museums. There you will find four rooms all connected, that were constructed between 1447 and 1455. In those four rooms are some of the great works of the famous artist Raphael. It is interesting that the rooms were named that way because of the work Raphael himself did in decorating each room, not because they are devoted to showcasing his art.

It doesn’t take much guessing to know what is in the Vatican Picture Gallery. But it is definitely worth a visit to see great art by some of the great masters of history including Van Dyck, Perugino, Poussin and Giotto.

How language is used may give you the wrong impression of what you will see in the Gregorian Museum of Profane Art because you will not find dirty pictures here. In the context of this being one of the Vatican Museums, “profane art” simply means that the subject matter of the art is not sacred in nature. This interesting collection was opened in 1970 to showcase Roman sculptures from the Republican and Imperial eras such as well as sarcophagi and things of that nature.

Three years after the opening of the Gregorian Museum of Profane Art, the Carriage Pavilion opened. The building is located under the Square Garden and it is used to display the vehicles that have been used over the centuries for the Pope and other high Vatican officials to ride in. Along with the many carriages you can inspect in the Carriage Pavilion, you will also find supplemental items like pictures of parades or times when Popes were in processions, as well as the harnesses for the horses and other support items that were used for upkeep and documentation of these vehicles.

But there is no question that the crowning moment of any visit to the Vatican Museums will be the time you spend in the world renowned Sistine Chapel, to take in the huge masterpiece that Michelangelo painted on the Chapel ceiling. As you gaze up you will know this is a moment you will remember for life. But don’t miss out on Michelangelo’s Last Judgment, which he came back and added to the chapel 20 years later.

Nothing will be able to take the place of the impression you will get gazing at that ceiling. There you will witness nine panels that are used to depict Biblical characters including Noah, a number of unknown male nudes, Sibyls and the crowning moment in the piece as God himself reaches out to touch Adam’s finger and give him life. The famous writer Goethe summed up the feeling you get when you see that painting when he said:

“Without having seen the Sistine Chapel, one can form no appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving.”

Goethe’s words could easily to applied to hundreds of other outstanding art works by hundreds of master artists whose work is on display in the many buildings of the Vatican Museums.

By: Jill Kammer

About the Author:
When you’re choosing your accommodation Rome, be aware of the difference between apartments and hotels. Each brings its own special flavour to the table, so read up a bit on those differences first.

At Rome-Accom.com, we offer nearly 200 apartments for rent in Rome, all our staff are English-speaking and we’re based locally in central Rome, so you’ve got someone nearby to help out if you need it.

In addition, we also have over 500 villas, apartments, B and B’s and farmhouses available for rent all across Italy, so why not check out our full range of Italy accommodation at Italy-Accom.com and find some amazing places to stay.



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Rome Museums & Galleries

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008


The Eternal City– Rome is the capital and the largest city of Italy. Situated in the west-central part of the country on the Tiber River, the “City of the Seven Hills” was founded by Romulus in 753 B.C.

The City of Love– Rome is the see of the pope as the holy kingdom Vatican City is within the city of Rome. Rome is also the capital of Latium and of Rome province as well.

Often dubbed as the “Capital of the World,” the city of Rome is one of the world’s richest cities in history and art and one of its great cultural, religious, and intellectual centers.

Home to numerous beautiful sites, museums and art galleries, Rome is one of the most coveted tourist destinations of the world. Rome attracts bulks of tourists from all over the globe. Museums and galleries are the major attraction of the city. Roman museums and galleries are sumptuous storehouses of art and culture. They give great glimpses of rich roman history, culture, and religion. Some of the popular museums and galleries of Rome are discussed below.

Museum Galleria Borghese: The museum offers the great collection assembled by Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The museum features major works by Raphael, Rubens, Titian, Caravaggio, Bernini, Antonello da Messina and Canova.

Galleria Colonna: The magnificent Galleria Colonna is base in huge complex of imperial Palazzo Colonna. The gallery displays a number of masterpieces by artists including Lorenzo Monaco, Bronzino, Ghirlandaio, Salviati, Veronese, Palma il Vecchio, Jacopo and Domenico Tintoretto, Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carracci, Francesco Albani, Guercino, Guido Reni, Carlo Maratta, Gaspard Dughet, Crescenzio Onofri, Girolamo Muziano, and Pompeo Batoni.

Barberini Palace and National Gallery of Antique Art (The Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica): The Palazzo Corsini and the Palazzo Barberini are the two sites of the gallery. The Palazzo Barberini is one of the grandest palaces in Rome. The Gallery sites with elegant interiors feature works by Fra Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Lorenzo Lotto, Andrea del Sarto, Perugino, Pietro da Cortona, Caravaggio, Canaletto and Raphael.

Doria Pamphili Gallery: The Gallery houses one of Rome’s most distinguished private art collections, including works by Caravaggio, Titian, Raphael, Vel

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The Top 12 Museums in the World

Sunday, April 6th, 2008


Here is my personal “top 12 museums” in the western world:

1- The Louvre in Paris is arguably the world’s most famous Museum, with a wonderful collection of antiquities and European painting, including -of course- Leonardo’s Gioconda

2- The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is arguably America’s greatest museum. Its spectacular collection is especially strong in American painting and Egyptian Antiquities.

3- The British Museum is England’s greatest museum -and one of the best in the world- of Ancient Arts and antiquities, with an excellent collection of Art from Ancient Egypt to the Middle Ages.

4- The Vatican Museums houses the immense and outstanding Art collection of the Catholic Church, with some of the most important works of Art of the History, such as the Sistine Chapel or Raphael’s The School of Athens

5- The Hermitage Museum is the most important Museum in Russia and also the largest Art collection in the world. More than 3,000,000 million of artworks, from the stone age to the post-impressionism

6- The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna houses an important collection of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, and an outstanding collection of European painting.

7- The National Gallery of London houses one of the world’s finest collection of European painting, from the 13th to the early 20th century.

8- The Museum of modern Art (MOMA) houses the world’s best collection of modern and contemporary Art, featuring masterworks as Picasso’s Demoiselles d’Avignon or van Gogh’s Starry night.

9- The Muse

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