The Met truly has so much to offer, but if I were to key in on certain exhibits that really caught my attention, then I would have to share with you my love for The Charles Engelhard Courtyard, and The European Sculpture Courtyard.
The renovated Engelhard Court, which has always been one of the Museum's loveliest and most popular spaces, features a new display of monumental large-scale sculptures, mosaics, stained glass, and architectural elements. Here are a few pictures of my favorites works of art:
"Garden Landscape and Fountain" - Louis C. Tiffany (1848-1933) New York City, ca 1915 Favrile- glass mosaic
I love how beautifully constructed this fountain is with its iridescent colored glass. It has a delicate touch with the water and garden landscape in the background. Tiffany's works graced countless interiors such as churches and department stores.
"View of Oyster Bay"- Louis C. Tiffany (1848-1933) New York City, 1908 Leaded Favrile glass
This is another one of Tiffany's works using delicate colored stained glass. This has sort of an illusionistic window view, frmaed by a trellis and wisteria vines dripping with blue and white flower blossoms. I love the calm feeling you get from staring into this window.
"Grapevine Panels"- Louis C. Tiffany (1848-1933) New York City, 1905-15 Leaded Favrile glass
These highly decorative panels feature lush grapes and vines entwined on a structured trellis. I like how the broad leaves are rendered in a variety of greens lightly touched with blue, purple, and even pink. The 3-dimensional forms of the grapes enhance the illusionistic effect.
"The Angel of Death and the Sculptor" From the Milmore Memorial. - Daniel Chester French (1850-1931) 1889-93 carving Marble
This memorial represents the moment when the Angel of Death interrupts the sculptor's work, staying the chisel in his left hand. She also hold a bunch of poppies in her hand, symbolizing eternal sleep. I love the poetic content of this detailed sculpture, as well as the integration of real and ideal elements.
"All Angels' Church pulpit and choir rail"- Karl Bitter (1867-1915) New York City 1900 Limestone, oak, walnut
Bitter was one of the foremost architectural sculptors working in the United States at the turn of the twentieth century. This pulpit and choir rail portrays finely carved angels in high relief, playing musical instruments or carrying appropriate attributes, dramatically twist and turn as they move across the balustrade. On top, a large bronze trumpeting angel appears, supported by a partial figure of Moses holding the tablets of the law. The detail carved in the angels and railing is beautifully constructed.
"Boy and Duck"- Frederick William MacMonnies (1863-1937) Bronze fountain
Italian Renaissance art, MacMonnies is known for his contemporary sculpture In France. Boy and Duck depicts a laughing child delighted in having captured a prized duck. As a fountain, I love how the ducks and ducklings spout water from their beaks. The fountain is overall greatly crafted and the expression on the child's face is timeless.
The European Sculpture courtyard:
These Four large monumental sculptures represent one of the four Elements of life: Water, Fire, Earth, and Wind. All sculptures were done in Limestone by artist Jean-Pierre Defrance (1694-1768)
"The Nymph of Dampierre"- Louis Claude Vasse (1716-1772) French, Paris, signed and dated 1763 Marble
This wall fountain seems to have a woman washing her hair with snakes at her feet. The detail in this fountain is beautifully crafted and a sense of mystery is portrayed through this scene.
"Andromeda and the Sea Monster"- Domenico Guidi (1625-1701) Italian, Rome 1964 Marble
Andromeda was a princess from Greek mythology who, as divine punishment for her mother's bragging, was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. She was saved from death by Perseus, her future husband.
In this grand sculpture, Andromeda is shown awaiting her delivery by the demigod Perseus from the jaws of the sea monster. I like the intensity of the sea monster, and how Andromeda is shown chained down to a rock awaiting her savior.
"Ugolino and his Sons"- Jean Baptiste Carpeaux (1827-1875) Marble
Told by Dante in "The Inferno", The story of the Pisan traitor Ugolino Della Gherardesca, imprisoned with his sons and condemned to starvation. I love the great expression in the faces of this sculpture, mainly the anguished father resisting his sons' offer of their own bodies for his sustenance. I like how the figures and their body compositions in this piece are so life- like, the way they twist around and firmly grasp their father. I think the way the hands are portrayed in this sculpture give it the dramatic touch. Composition cast in bronze as well.
My experience at the Met was very fulfilling and I loved learning about the history of these great works of art. I would definitely encourage everyone to come visit this museum at some point in their life.
What nice photographs, Alyssa. The spaces created for the European sculpture collection and in the American wing are infused with a wonderful light to see and photograph these pieces by.
ReplyDeleteYou delved into the allegory of each piece...good. The paper would be strengthened if you would take one piece and address it in terms of it's place in art history as a defined movement and what that movement is about. For instance, Daniel Chester French represents a revival of neo-classicism in America during a particular period. What does that mean? Why is that? What were the aims of neo-classicism? What could it be in response to?
A paragraph or two would suffice. You could also include one biographical paragraph on that artist as well.