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Art Travel Guide
The World’s Best Works of Art
Recently the Telegraph critic, Martin Gayford, listed the 50 best works of art ever made and where you can find them… The list is arranged in a chronological order from the dawn of civilization to the modern/contemporary art exhibits and displays of today.
This is a truly fascinating list that could raise a few eye brows…
I was astonished to find The Da Vinci masterpiece, Lady with Ermine, in the 25th spot. Gayford commented on adding this Da Vinci painting as apposed to his more memorable works:
“The Last Supper is a wreck, the Mona Lisa is so besieged that it’s almost impossible to see - which leaves this beguiling picture as the most beautiful Leonardo in existence. It is in any case the picture that presented one of his great innovations: a sense of human personality more real, subtle and complex than had ever existed in portraiture before.”
Additional popular artists and their art on the list:
- Vincent Van Gogh’s Chair
- Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon
- Henri Matisse, La Danse (II)
- Claude Monet, Waterlilies
It’s an interesting exercise to try and come up with a list of great works of art, my guess is that my list would’ve been completely different…
Top 20 Art Museums in the World
Recently, Art Newspaper released it’s annual list of most popular art museums in the world.
The Mona Lisa still drives the most traffic among any work of art and paced the Louvre Museum in Paris with an estimated 8,300,000 visitors.
Here’s the list of the top art museums in the world in its entirety:
No. Visitors - Museum, City:
8,300,000 - Louvre, Paris
5,509,425 - Centre Pompidou, Paris
5,191,840 - Tate Modern, London
4,837,878 - British Museum, London
4,547,353 - Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
4,518,413 - National Gallery of Art, Washington
4,310,083 - Vatican Museums, Vatican City
4,159,485 - National Gallery, London
3,166,509 - Musée d’Orsay, Paris
2,652,924 - Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid
2,650,551 - National Palace Museum, Taipei
2,435,300 - Victoria and Albert Museum, London
2,395,075 - State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg
2,232,475 - Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
2,219,554 - Museum of Modern Art, New York
2,133,149 - Field Museum, Chicago
1,772,255 - Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo
1,674,607 - CaxiaForum Barcelona, Barcelona
1,650,000 - Moscow Kremlin Museums, Moscow
1,649,969 - Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
I had the privilege of visiting the New York and London Museums on the list this past year, a pleasure that I will cherish forever. I would recommend visiting all the museums on the list and enjoy the magnificent art and culture that they embrace.
Another small museum in New York is the Neue Galerie Museum that holds the most prised New York painting aside of the MoMA’s Van Gogh Starry Night. Portrait of Adele Bloch Bauer by Gustav Klimt is going to be the Mona Lisa of the city. I went to see it this past summer and it is as breath taking as any artwork you have ever seen. The price tag is equally impressive tallying over $135 Million.
Travel Tips - Embrace the Art Around You
While busying yourself to complete your itinerary, do not neglect the art that surrounds you while on vacation. While eating your meals or walking along the narrow paths of a European city, their in the art around you lies the history, the passion of the people, and the true story of the place.
Another option is to look for up and coming artist on the walls of the cafés. While enjoying your “Café Ole” ask management, waiters and find out about interesting art you find on the wall. It is a great way to take back memories with you from your travels, and who knows, your small investment could grow into what could possibly be the beginning stages of your child’s college fund.
Pablo Picasso’s Old Guitarist (1903) a masterpiece from the artist’s Blue Period depicts a man sitting cross-legged playing a guitar. Reminds me of art decor you will find in a small French or Spanish cafe while traveling. No laptop computer, no business meetings, no carpooling children to soccer games, simply enjoy yourself and take in the cafe decor.
Fun at the MoMA
The MoMA Museum was one of the highlights of my travels this summer.
I had a great time walking past the great artworks that I only read about in art journals throughout the years.
I made this video as I was strolling past the Van Gogh Starry Night Oil Painting… This is just a joke so don’t take it the wrong way…
Me and the Starry Night - Unite!
New York is not just the home of the Yankees or Broadway shows… it’s also the home of one of the greatest oil paintings of modern times… the Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh.
For years I have wanted to come face to face with this great masterpiece, as I walked through the corridors of the MoMA – Museum of Modern Art on 53rd and Fifth Ave the excitement began to soar. I made my way to the fourth floor of this amazing facility, walking past the Richard Serra Exhibition and the other great works of art. I encountered Rothko’s, Picasso’s, Mondrian’s, Gauguin’s, Cezanne’s, Matisse’s… the excitement grew even more as I began to see Van Gogh’s on the wall.
I guess I wasn’t the only visitor that day that came to see the Starry Night masterpiece. People where cramming in to get a glimpse of the artwork, two guards were assigned to keep people away from the glass and make sure no one tried anything stupid…
“This morning I saw the country from my window a long time before sunrise,” the artist wrote to his brother Theo, “with nothing but the morning star, which looked very big.” Rooted in imagination and memory, the Starry Night embodies an inner, subjective expression of Van Gogh’s response to nature.
In thick sweeping brushstrokes, a flame like cypress unites the churning sky and the quiet village below. The village was partly invented, and the church spirit evokes Van Gogh’s native land, the Netherlands. The simple Vienna gold frame is a testament of the great masterpiece.
I felt truly grateful for that moment to unite with the Starry Night, I think that sensation would have been stronger if it wasn’t for the crowd and the thick glass. Oh well, I can always take comfort in the amazing Starry Night handmade reproduction I have at home…
Summer’s Must-see Art Exhibits - West Coast
Ever since my last visit to L.A., I have been in-aw by the people’s love for art out west. The museums are good, even great. But the art community is really special.
That alone is a good reason to find the time and head out to the West coast where your appreciation for great art is shared by many.
Without further ado, here are this summer’s must-see art exhibits of the West Coast. So many things to see but with so little time, I chose three that absolutely stand out…
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art SFMOMA, San Francisco
Matisse and Beyond, The exhibition represents 20th century artists from various movements from Fauvism to Contemporary. Artists featured include René Magritte, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, Diego Rivera and Mark Rothko. Runs all Summer long.
Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Manet’s “A Bar at Folies Bergere”, Revel in Impressionist Edouard Manet’s masterpiece set in Paris’ elaborate variety entertainment venue. Painted in 1882, just a year prior to his death, the work leaves viewers to ponder and be inspired by its perplexing contradictions and ambiguities. Runs through Septmeber 9, 2007
San Diego Museum of Art SDMA, San Diego
Impressionist Giverny: a Colony of Artists, 1885-1915
This summer, the San Diego Museum of Art will be the only North American venue of more than 100 Impressionist paintings, with key examples by Claude Monet and many other artists that graced the Mecca of Impressionist Art around the turn of the century. Runs through September 30, 2007
Summer’s Must-see Art Exhibits - Midwest & South
This summer’s must-see art exhibits continue through the Midwest and South… Some great art shows in almost every city, I chose three that absolutely stand out…
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago - The Impact of Japanese Prints in 19th Century Europe. The exhibition portrays the influence of Japanese prints on the New Age artists of Europe. Works by Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Edouard Manet and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec will be compared with Japanese prints. Runs through October 1, 2007.
High Museum of Art, Atlanta - Immerse yourself in France’s historic art culture as part of the 2006-2009 Louvre Atlanta partnership. Magnificent paintings and sculptures acquired by France’s Louis XIV and Louis XVI are on display including works by Rembrandt and Francis Boucher. Runs through September 2, 2007.
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis - This exhibition examines the Pablo Picasso had in the development of American art over the past century by contrasting his work with that of groundbreaking American artists who were inspired by his example. The exhibition features 30 Picasso oil paintings as well as a wide-ranging display of works by nine American artists: Max Weber and Jackson Pollock. Runs through September 9, 2007.
If you’re busy and don’t have time to travel great distances to one of these attractions, simply checkout what’s going on in your local museum… they might have some great art on display… if you would like to recommend a museum then don’t hesitate to let me know…
Summer’s Must-see Art Exhibits - East Coast
For those of you who will be heading out on vacation in the following summer months, here is a quick tour of what great art exhibits are coming your way… The next couple of days I will give a coast to coast overview of the great exhibitions and galleries to look for this summer…
Summer’s top museums and gallery attractions across the country can only begin in New York. Manhattan is the un-disputed capitol of great art in the US (sorry LA)…
The MoMA, New York - Picasso’s Demoiselles d’Avignon celebrates its one-hundredth anniversary, and MoMA is commemorating the occasion with an exhibition of the genesis of this important work. Included are other works done immediately prior and subsequent to Demoiselles d’Avignon, to illustrate its influence of this masterpiece on Modern Art in general and on Picasso’s own career. Runs through August 27, 2007.
NEUE Galerie, New York - The collection of Neue Galerie New York covers a range of media, including painting, sculpture, works on paper, decorative arts, and photographs created in Austria and Germany between 1890 and 1940. The extended Neue Galerie collection is comprised of works by many German and Austrian artists of the times, but there is one painting that stands out and is considered the Mona Lisa of Modern times. Just catching a glimpse of Klimt’s Adele Bloch Bauer is worth the visit. Runs through June 2008.
Moving out of New York City, here are some other great exhibits showing on the East Coast…
Museum of Fine Art, Boston - Featuring Edward Hopper’s classic images from early- to mid-twentieth century, the collection comprises more than 90 of his works. Runs through August 19, 2007.
Museum of Art, Philadelphia - Pop Art and Its Affinities Works by artists who made important strides in the Pop Art movement are on display, including Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Starts July 29 and runs through September 30, 2007.
So if you are tired of the art in your home or office this summer, get out and travel to see exquisite masterpieces… that’s what I’ll be doing… Hope you find this guide helpful, if you have any advice please share it!
The Claude Monet Show
New York will be invaded by Impressionism this Friday, as an important and esteemed collection of the Impressionist master, Claude Monet, will be on display in the most comprehensive retrospective of the proclaimed artist in the last 30 years.
Spectators will become exposed to many of his early famous paintings of the suburban Parisian countryside and the famous water lilies series. However, the show will also include his lesser-known abstract late pieces, in thick impasto style, which appear to have influenced 20th Century artists such as the cubists – Picasso and Braque.
Organizers of the show are trying to examine Monet’s universal appeal. Why does everyone seem to love Monet?
“It’s because it makes you feel good about life. People just are happy when they look at Monets,” said Joseph Baillio, curator at Wildenstein & Co. “Some intellectuals feel that Monet was a superficial artist because his images are so reassuring. Monet is challenging, but you have to be able to go into depth with Monet to be able to understand where the challenges are.”
So if you get a chance, drop by the Wildenstein & Co. gallery on E. 64th St. and enjoy a journey of Impressionistic proportions…
The influence of Vincent Van Gogh on Expressionism
The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is hosting an exhibition that looks at the Dutch artist’s influence upon the German and Austrian Expressionist movement of the early 20th century.
Museum directors and private collectors in Germany and Austria were some of the first to buy Van Gogh’s work. By 1914, there were 164 of his paintings circulating in their collections.
One of the earliest purchases was Field of Poppies, which ignited heated debate after the Bremen Museum acquired it.
The many traveling exhibitions organized in Germany and Austria helped to influence an entire generation of young artists, including Wassily Kandinsky, Gustav Klimt and Edvard Munch.
Some artists were particularly drawn by Van Gogh’s technique, intense brushwork and sharp colors while others were influenced more by his emotional approach. This was particularly prominent in Van Gogh’s psychological portraits. Some artists even started to pay tribute to Van Gogh’s paintings, for instance, Egon Schiele painted various versions of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
Vincent van Gogh and Expressionism has been on display since November 24 and will be showing until March 4 at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, if you make it down to Amsterdam in the next three months please let us know your impressions…