Stay Home, Stay Happy: Visiting Art Museums Virtually
by: Lauren Jonik and Andrea Crowley-Hughes
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of every day life.” – Pablo Picasso
There is something edifying about being surrounded by art of all kinds. In the first post of our new series, “Stay Home, Stay Happy,” we’re highlighting several art museums that have made their collections accessible online. While one could argue that viewing art in person is preferable, appreciating works from a distance is no less meaningful. So, sit back, get comfortable and enjoy what these institutions have to offer.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
The Museum of Modern Art in New York City (MoMA) houses an expansive collection of Modern Art. Founded during the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, MoMA is one of the premier institutions for the display of art created after 1880. The era we call Modern Art began during the second half of the 19th Century and spanned the duration of the next 100 years. Notable movements within Modern Art include Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Cubism and Expressionism — each shaped the aesthetic and carried the movement forward in a rapidly evolving world that had fallen under the spell of the Industrial Revolution. MoMA’s online collection features works by Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Paul Cezanne and many others. Additionally, Coursera, an online learning platform, currently offers a free course that provides a good overview of Modern Art for anyone interested in learning more.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC was founded with the intent of bringing art to a wider American audience. While it is not the oldest art museum in the United States– that honor goes to the Wadsworth Atheneum which was founded in 1842 — The Met is the largest. The Met 360 Project allows viewers to enjoy several of their rooms interactively. The Met is also hosting remote events that feature artists, educators, conservators and curators. Visit here to find a list of current and upcoming virtual events. Lastly, if you or the aspiring artist in your family (amateurs welcome!) are feeling inspired to pick up a pencil or paintbrush, be sure to check out the series Drop-In Drawing to learn how to brush up on your artistic skills.
The Guggenheim
A third renowned NYC is opening its “doors” online. The Guggenheim Museum was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is considered to be the architect’s masterpiece. With Guggenheim From Home, you can hear about the museum’s architecture in an audio tour narrated by Roman Mars, the host of the popular podcast 99% Invisible and view collections and exhibits. Google Streetview also offers a walkthrough of the iconic building, in which you can gaze at striking paintings, sculptures and installations. The contemporary twist of the collection is sure to inspire and even challenge you as an appreciator of art.
The Louvre
The largest and perhaps, the most prestigious museum in the world, The Louvre in Paris was established in 1793 during the French Revolution. The era initiated profound societal change — most notably, the decline of monarchies and the shift towards democracies. At the time of its opening, The Louvre exhibited over five hundred paintings, many of which came from the royal collections. The general public was given free access three days a week — a major event for the times. Fortunately, there are no such restrictions for those who wish to visit from afar today. The Louvre’s Petite Gallerie is a good place to start exploring. Be sure to take advantage of their feature to zoom in on the works of art to get an enhanced view. Of course, no visit to The Louvre would be complete without a look at one of the world’s most famous paintings who found her way back to her proper home after being stolen on a hot August day in 1911: the incomparable The Mona Lisa.
Museo Frida Kahlo
Get immersed by the striking blue walls of La Casa Azul, where Frida Kahlo lived, and the colorful, haunting artwork by Kahlo and muralist Diego Rivera. Google Arts and Culture offers four museum walkthroughs of Museo Frida Kahlo. You can also explore collections from oil paintings to cubism. It’s especially worth experiencing a special exhibit, “Appearances Can Be Deceiving,” which explores Kahlo’s wardrobe in the context of her disability and the cultural statements she made.
Musée d’Orsay
The Musee d’Orsay on the Left Bank of the Seine in the heart of Paris is housed in the former Gare d’Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built just before the turn of the 20th Century. The museum’s collection features works by notable French artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edouard Manet, Paul Gaugin. Peer into Van Gogh’s bedroom via his depiction in his 1889 work “Bedroom in Arles.” Enjoy Renoir’s serene scenes of daily life — his gift was in capturing not only the settings around him but the people who made them so captivating. Or, see the result when an artist observes art in another form as Degas reveals in his painting “The Ballet Class” (1871-1874). Wander through the online galleries here and check out this podcast by Annie and Elise from Join Us in France to learn more about the collections. As with all museum “visits” whether in person or online, take your time and savor not only the works, but also the stories behind them and those of the artists themselves.
The Vatican Museum
Over 500 years old, The Vatican Museum displays some of the most prestigious art in the world in its 54 galleries. The works of Raphael, Caravaggio, Titian and Botticelli and many other esteemed artists grace the walls– and more. The breath-taking frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel were painted by Michelanglo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni alone over four years between 1508 and 1512. He painted the well-known “Creation of Adam,” which portrays the hand of God reaching down from above to touch the hand of the earthbound Adam. As art historian Elizabeth Lev explains in her 2015 talk on Ted.com, “The Sistine Chapel forces us to look around as if it were a mirror. Who am I in this picture? Am I one of the crowd? Am I the drunk guy? Am I the athlete? And as we leave this heaven of uplifting beauty, we are inspired to ask ourselves life’s biggest questions: Who am I, and what role do I play in this great theater of life?” These are questions that art—like that of which in The Vatican Museums— seeks both to ask and answer– and perhaps, ask again.
The Picasso Museum
In the heart of Barcelona’s Latin Quarter is one of the most popular attractions in the city, but you can skip the long admission line at bcn.cat/museupicasso/. With a virtual tour of the courtyards, you can explore the architectural elements of the structures that house the comprehensive collection of artwork from throughout the artist’s life. If you’re into art history, the Guide to Picasso’s Barcelona traces Picasso’s career through a tour around the houses Picasso lived and worked in and the places he frequented. And of course, The Collection can be viewed online and offers context for paintings of various periods, journals and more.
The London Natural History Museum
If you want to see an impressive collection of illustrations and animal artifacts, a natural history museum is where you want to “be.” The London Natural History Museum can be toured virtually in many ways. An interactive feature on Hope, the blue whale suspended from the ceiling in Hintze Hall, takes you through her life in the ocean and how she got to the Museum, with information on how whales eat, sea mythology and more. Meet Dippy the dino in the entrance hall and roam the collections in this Google Arts online tour, or, for added narration, experience a tour of Hintze Hall with David Attenborough. The Nature Live Online team offers a live recording on Tuesdays and Friday, featuring topical discussions with scientists on meteorites to mammoths, evolution to the climate crisis. Oh, and remember Dippy? This 3D model lets you explore the dinosaur’s features in depth.
main image: Starry Night, Vincent van Gogh (1889)
other images:
Reflections of Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond, Claude Monet (c. 1920)
The Rehearsal of the Ballet on Stage, Edgar Degas (c. 1874)
The Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1503-1506)
The Creation for Adam, Michelangelo (c. 1508–1512)
The Reservoir – Pablo Picasso (1909)
Lauren Jonik is a writer, photographer and the co-editor of TheRefresh. She holds a Master’s degree in Media Management from The New School in NYC. Her work has appeared in McSweeney’s, The Manifest-Station, Two Cities Review, Amendo, The Establishment, Bustle, Role Reboot, Ravishly and more. Follow her on Twitter: @laurenjonik
Andrea Crowley-Hughes is TheRefresh co-editor, former print journalist and Digital Communications Manager for Journalism and Women Symposium. She holds a master’s degree in Media Studies from The New School Media Studies program in 2016 and works part-time at a DIY art studio.