After a particularly difficult week in America (and a disgraceful performance by the Boston Red Sox last night) it was time to visit the Boston Museum Of Fine Arts today, and experience beauty and tranquility.
The gallery of Modern American Art was especially helpful.
I hadn’t expected to enjoy this exhibit at the Boston Museum Of Fine Arts as much as I did. It focuses on the use of pastels by French Impressionist painters like Mary Cassatt, one of my favorites.
As some of you know, I love pencils, and although pastels are very different in composition from wood-and-graphite, they have a kind of creative synergy with pencils that intrigues me. And as with pencils, pastels have a very special relationship with fine papers.
They make me wish I could draw. Maybe I should try.
At the Boston MFA through June 24.
I forgot to mention that our visit to the Boston Museum Of Fine Arts last week would not have been complete without re-connecting with Degas' little dancer.
Today was the first Sunday of the first full weekend of the month, so that meant free admission to the Museum Of Fine Arts, courtesy of our BankAmericard. Thank you once again, Bank Of America.
I'm just going to leave photos here of some things that drew me to them. It was very special to see such beauty that had survived from the 15th and 16th centuries.
And yes, Botticelli's "Venus" was indeed part of the exhibit, and for many of those present, it seemed to be the primary focus. And it certainly was powerful to see the original painting in person.
But my eyes drifted to other works that were less known or unknown to me, that engaged me immediately
There was a young man with a man-bun looking at this painting while I was taking the photo. I resisted the temptation to ask him if this might have been the inspiration for his choice of hairstyle.
He is one of my favorite contemporary artists, and this is a unique insight into how he creates his gorgeous and sensual paintings. It is also another chapter in the eternal push-and-pull between commercial success and critical acceptance.
These are Grant Wood's original models for his painting "American Gothic". So very uplifting.
