The National Gallery of Art – West Building was our second destination on October 4th. It puzzles me why an art gallery would use this bright blue print on the red background. It is so hard to read.
We were on our way from the U.S. Capitol Building to the National Gallery of Art – West Building when we came upon a set of monuments. We walked over to them. They turned out to be ones honoring Dwight D. Eisenhower as a young boy, military officer and 34th U.S. President. Glad we took a few minutes to check it out.
I know how much I enjoy art museums, but I wasn’t sure how long one would interest Barry. We split up since we didn’t have too long to explore. There were specific artists I wanted to find. We met back up as the museum was closing for the day. We discovered that we both would like to come back tomorrow morning to continue touring the West Building and move on into the East Building. This blog includes both days.
THE READING GIRL by Magni
Thought of Abby, who continues to be my reading girl!
I’ve always been drawn to cherub sculptures. I enjoyed these. Painting and Sculpture, followed by Poetry and Music (different sculptors)
This is an incredible piece! I am amazed how the veil over this face is so realistic. This is done in MARBLE!
Atrium at the end of the West building and the featured fountain sculpture.
When I was in college and I went to Italy with Professor Louis Palmer’s January Interim “The Arts”, I fell in love with all the Della Robbia glazed terracotta sculptures.
MERCURY statue fountain in the rotunda of the West Building.
When I took 6th graders to Camp Moran on Orcas Island in Washington, I learned about Thomas Moran, American artist. Moran played a significant role in the creation of multiple National Parks. His drawings and paints were sent to Congress to alert them to these unique and amazing areas of natural beauty that needed protected.
LEONARDO DA VINCI
This piece was fully enclosed to protect and preserve it.
The front and back:
Love this – A unique recreation of Whistler’s Symphony in White, No. 1. The original is featured later in this blog.
Close ups details:
WINSLOW HOMER
AUGUSTE RENOIR
Girl with a Hoop, The Dancer, Girl With a Watering Can
Young Spanish Woman with a Guitar, Bather Arranging Her Hair, Young Woman Braiding Her Hair, Pont Nerf, Paris
Portrait of Claude Monet by Auguste Renoir. Artists who end up living in the same area often became friends with each other. Depending on the friendship the artists styles may be significantly influenced.
CLAUDE MONET
The Japanese Footbridge, The Artist’s Garden at Vetheuil, Woman with a Parasol – Madame Monet and Her Son
The Artist’s Garden in Argenteuil (A Corner of the Garden with Dahlias)
Close up details that I think really make this special.
Banks of the Seine, Jerusalem Artichoke Flowers, The Cradle-Camille with the Artist’s Son Jean
PAUL CEZANNE
Riverbank – Banks of the Seine at Medan, Harlequin, Landscape Near Paris, The Gardener Vallier, Boy in a Red Waistcoat
EDGAR DEGAS
The Dance Lesson, Before the Ballet, Dance Class, Four Dancers
VINCENT Van Gogh
Green Wheat Fields, Auvers, Self-Portrait, Farmhouse in Provence
Mary Cassatt
Children Playing on the Beach, Boating Party, Little Girl in a Blue Armchair, Woman with a Sunflower, Young Girl at a Window
Camille Pissarro
The Gardener-Old Peasant with Cabbage, Young Peasant Girls Resting
GEORGES SEURAT
WINSLOW HOMER
Sparrow Hall
SARGEANT
Sergeant was captivated by Spanish music and dancing. He studied the fluid movement of the flamenco dancers.
PABLO PICASSO
Known for his abstract artwork, I felt I should include these earlier paintings by Picasso.
The Lovers, Madame Picasso, Classical Head
Le Gourmet
Harlequin Musician
Abstract Works by Various Artists
While I was never a fan of Picasso’s abstract work, I do enjoy unique, creative art. The artwork must first catch my attention by appealing to me for some reason, and then as I look more closely I then develop an appreciation for the talent in creating the entire piece. It’s nice that as we grow (age) our tastes develop and become more fluid.
Cubism
The Bicycle Race, and Street of Barns, both by Lionel Feininger
The painting below always amuses me. I wonder how many people walk quickly by it without stopping when “something” isn’t quite “right”. Ghost horse and rider? But what trees are closest to you?furthest away? What path through the trees is the horse taking? Enjoy.
RENE’ MAGRITTE
The Blank Signature
A special exhibition display: THE WOMAN IN WHITE
Interactive Easels
There was a fun museum store between the West and East Buildings. It supports your inner artist.
And what a cool transition from West to East/East to West.
The architecture throughout the West and East Buildings of the museum matched the era of art within. The West Building architecture is neoclassical and the East Building is modern. The West Building is definitely larger of the two and holds a lot more art pieces.
We concluded our visit of the National Gallery of Art with the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Here are some of the pieces. To each his own.
The “House” we found the most intriguing. As you changed your viewing angle, the house really changed!
AND coming soon:
We went back to the RV to rest up for evening tour of major DC monuments. Really looking forward to seeing some of these at night!