The world is full of wonderus places. While for the present we are confined to our homes, there will be a time that we once again will be free to roam. We should take this time to narrow down the wonderful sites that we would like to visit in person sometime in the, hopefully, not too distant future. I am merely providing you with a few suggestions as to where to start. When visiting a museum website and viewing a painting, more often than not, it is possible to view a larger size of the painting viewed. Roll the mouse pointer over the painting and click, the painting should enlarge.
Please Note: This part of the site is a work in progress. Visit often to view all updates.
Starting Locally
New York City The following are but a few of the most famous museums in Manhattan:
Metropolitan Museum of Art - This one museum has everything. It is a wonderful place to visit. Remember when you go in person, stop by the food court! This one site covers all three parts of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is comprised of three parts:
While the Metropolitan Museum of Art presents a multitude of objet d'art - the French phrase says it so eloquently - please make sure that you visit one of my favorite painters, Johannes Vermeer. Can you guess my favorite Vermeer painting? Hint... it contains a water picture.
The Cloisters - Which is an actual medieval cloister. To read more about it click here.
MoMA - Museum of Modern Art - If you are a fan of modern art, then this is the place to start your tour. Do not forget to visit Vincent Van Gogh's most recognized "Starry Night Over the Rhone." While there is more than one painting by this name, this painting is the most iconic of them all.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum - This was the first Guggenheim museum to be built. The building where the museum is permanently housed was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Solomon R. Guggenheim houses are from the Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary artwhile also featuring special exhibitions from time to time through the year. I also recommend reading the Wikipedia article related to the museum. Hint: the pictures are very interesting.
There are a few Guggenheim Museums around the world. The second to be built was the (Peggy Guggenheim Collection) Guggenheim Museum Venice (1980).
The Frick Museum - For anyone who likes architecture as well as art, then the Frick is a must see! Take a virtual tour of the museum. The museum is permanently housed in a once private residence of one of the wealthiest families in New York: Henry Clay Frick. Houses like this are not easily accessible, I would recommend that you view the museum but also admire the grandeur of the home. There are two Vermeer paintings at the Frick, of the two, my favorite is: The Girl Interrupted at Her Music.
Morgan Museum and Library - If you like sumptuous homes of the gold coast rich and you like to read books that you can actually hold, then a stop at the Morgan house is a must. If your interested in knowing more about Mr. John Pierpont Morgan - JP, to his friends - take a look at this article from the History Channel.
An American History Note If you are interested in knowing more about 40 of America's wealthiest individuals, then a visit to "The 40 Richest Americans of All Time - Inflation Adjusted" is a must read. Hint as to #1... think oil.
Museums with Virtual Tours
The British Museum - This virtual tour of the museum has one of the most fascinating splash pages I have ever seen on a museum's website. It is a must see!
Louvre Museum, Paris - This museum has both a French and English language visitors page. If you would like to visit a few exhibits virtually, click here.
Museums of the World
The following list contains some of the most enchanting museums in the world. All of the sites have websites in various languages including English.
The British Museum (London) - The British Museum like the Louvre and the Metropolitan are museums that must be visited. Of the many, many objects and fine art pieces in this museum, I have a few personal standouts. The Rosetta Stone being one of them. If you would like to turn this almost 1,700 pound piece of granodiorite stele like a round loaf of Italian bread, click here. The museum is big, so take your time. Meander through its great halls and view what you like. There is something here for everyone. To help you find something specific, I have included a search page.
The Tate Museum is comprised for four different museums. For more on the Tate read this article. While the Tate is a national museum, it remains a private institution.
Tate Modern (London) - The Tate Modern as of 2000 is permanently located in the Bankside Power Station. Like the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the building that is home to the Tate Modern is, to say the least, interesting. The museum houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British art, as well as international modern and contemporary art. a few of my favorite pieces are: The Andy Warhol collection, particularly the No Title - and Liz.The Tate Modern is set to release a virtual tour of the Andy Warhol exhibit. (Stay tuned!) We cannot forget the famous Picasso painting "The Crying Woman."
There is also the "Breath 5" piece by Giuseppe Penone. Not one of my favorite pieces. This is the same artist commissioned by Fendi. If you have seen my Google Slides presentation of my recent visit to Rome, you will see the tree.
Tate Britain (London) - This museum is the oldest of the four that comprise the Tate museum complex. The entrance is neoclassical and impressive. One of the artists I discovered at the Tate Britain: John Turner. Of course one cannot visit the Tate Britain and not see John Everette Millais' work depicting Ophelia - The Ophelia from Shakespeare's play Hamlet.
Tate Liverpool (Liverpool) - Tate Liverpool houses work which comprises the national collection of British art from the year 1500 to the present day including elements of international modern art.
Tate St. Ives (Cornwall) - While I have never been to the Tate St. Ives in person, I have seen that this museum has a collection of one of my favorite modern artists: Naum Gabo. I first discovered Mr. Gabo's work during a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.
The National Gallery of Art (London) - The National Gallery of Art in London contains one of the finest collections of fine art in the World. Chronologically, it is one of the oldest museums of its kind. As with the Louvre and our own Metropolitan Museum of Art, each gs a new treasure! There are so many wonderful pieces of art that I cannot possibly choose a favorite. Moreover, if I were able, the list would be too extensive. Please visit the summary page to find your own special favorites.
Louvre (Paris) - The Louvre is a powerhouse in the world of museums. Like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., the Louvre is overflowing with things to see. Of course, I recommend visiting the Mona Lisa, but do not be surprised at the size of the painting. There is also the statue of Aphrodite, aka The Venus of Milo. As well as Winged Victory. Of course, I would be remiss if I did not add one of my personal favorites of the museum: L'astronome ou plutôt l'Astrologue - The Astrologer - and the The Lacemaker. For a closer look at this painting, view the page in French. "Who painted these?" did you ask? Vermeer, but of course!
Musée d'Orsay (Paris) - This museum houses one of the most beautiful and largest collections of paintings relating to Impressionism and neo-impressionism in the world. If, like me, you enjoyed viewing Van Gogh's Stary Night at the MoMA and you have been to visit Van Gogh collection at the National Gallery in D.C.; then a visit to the d'Orsay is a must! The d'Orsay holds another "Starry Night" painting by Van Gogh, this one is the view from his asylum. Make sure to view one of his most iconic and colorful self portraits as well. Since you at the d'Orsay, you should spend some time viewing the works of other Impressionist masters such as: Cézanne, Degas, Gauguin, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Seurat and Sisely. One of my favorite Renoir's at the d'Orsay is: Bal du moulin de la Galette.
Musée du quai Branly (Paris)- This is the newest of the major Parisian museums opening its doors in 2006. It contains a vast amount of works; over a million; from almost every continent: Africa, Asia, Oceania and, of course, the Americas.
Musée National di Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou(Paris) - The Centre's architecture is, different. However, it fits with the tone of the art that it houses. The Centre is one of the largest repository of modern art in Europe. In addition to housing a library, an institute for music and acoustic research it also has a magnificent view from its terrace. If modern art is your taste then this museum is a must see.
Versailles (12 miles outside Paris) - This was the royal residence of the French kings from approximately the end of the 1600s to approximately the end of the 1700s around the time the last king of France, Louis XVI, was executed. The chateau; we commoners would call it a palace; is something to see. It is indeed history in stone. Of similar beauty are the gardens that surround the palace.
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Dresden)- Also known as the Old Masters Art Gallery. The museum certainly lives up to its name. It houses major Italian Renaissance works as well as Dutch and Flemish paintings. Do not forget to look for Rafael's "Sistine Madonna." If you look closely at the base of the painting you will see two children that have become very famous even outside the art world.
Wallraf-Richartz Museum (Cologne) - The museum is one of the finest in Europe with a collection that contains a myriad of European painting; as well as prints; starting from the 13th century up to and including the 20th century. The viewer cannot leave the museum without viewing the Mona Lisa of Cologne, properly known as: The Modonna of the Rose Bower. If you are a fan of German Gothic art, Impressionism or Neo-Impressionism, then this museum is a must see.
Pinakothek Museums (Munich) - The pinakothek is a triptych - to borrow an art term - comprising three museums located in the city of Munich:
Alte Pinakothek - Presenting art and sculptures from the 1400s through the 1800s.
Please do not forget to view the "Madonna del Garofano" (Madonna of the Carnation) or as the Germans call the painting: Madonna mit der Nelke.
Neue Pinakothek - Presenting art and sculptures from the 1700s up to and through the 19th century.
Städel (Frankfurt) - Städel is short for Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie. The Städelmuseum is one of the most important museums in Germany. It presents a vast collection of fine art span from the 14th to the 21st century. While I should be lauding Sandro Botticelli's Idealized Portrait of a Lady, I cannot help but to also mention one of my favorite painters, Johannes Vermeer, who is represented by his painting The Geographer.
Museum Ludwig (Cologne) - This is modern art museum. The Ludwig holds one of the largest collections of Picasso's works in all of Europe and third in the world: 864 works. Who is Pablo Picasso? Check out Picasso's biography at biography.com.
Can you name the the museums where the first and second largest collections of Picasso's works are located?
Hint the first is in France... Musée Picasso, Paris - 5,000 works.
Hint the second is in Spain... Museu Picasso, Barcelona - 4,251 works.