Local, Near and Far: Our journey of exploring the world.

Tag: Cezanne

The Art of Paris: Top 5 Experiences at the Musée d’Orsay

Continuing our ongoing series looking at Paris’ colorful art scene, the Musée d’Orsay houses France’s largest Impressionist art collection. If you love art, you absolutely need to schedule a visit to the Musée d’Orsay on your next trip to Paris.

The Orsay’s artistic focus ranges from 1848 to 1914, boasting countless works from blockbuster artists such as Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, Toulouse-Lautrec, Rodin, Cézanne, Gauguin and van Gogh.

Naturally, the Orsay is a large museum, and the sheer volume of beautiful pieces of art can be overwhelming (not to mention the crowds). For example, the Musée d’Orsay owns 23 paintings by Claude Monet alone.

Musée d'Orsay - Clock Inside the Old Train Station

Clock Inside the Old Train Station

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The Menil Collection

Although I called Houston home for the first 18 years of my life, my first trip to The Menil Collection was on a college architectural field trip. Growing up, my family had always visited the more popular Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. I was surprised to find such a gem in my hometown!

Curved Roof Panels

Curved Roof Panels

On this first trip, my classmates and I examined this thoughtful building. Renowned architect Renzo Piano designed the main building, as well as the adjacent Cy Twombly Gallery. Piano also designed the recent expansion of the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. The challenge of any art museum is bringing natural light inside to illuminate the artwork without damaging them with harmful UV rays. At The Menil, Piano used curved roof panels to safely direct and filter the light into the spaces below, creating a distinctive rhythm throughout the structure. In addition to the roof panels, I love the long wood plank flooring that make the galleries seem even longer. The heavy wearing of the wood reveals the countless number of people who have enjoyed this space previously.

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The National Gallery

With only two hours in central London via a long layover, David and I decided to spend our time at The National Gallery.  We love art and wanted to see the gems that are housed in London.  The Gallery is open every day and is free so it was a perfect fit for us.

Trafalgar Square - View from the Museum

Trafalgar Square – View from the Museum

From the airport, we headed into London via the Tube and after a short walk, ended up in Trafalgar Square at The National Gallery.  When we arrived at the museum, I had to eat something before I could enjoy the art.  We headed down to the café, a little afraid of the prices; to our surprise, it was very reasonable.  The chicken curry sandwich, carrot cake and coffee were delicious and perfect.

Once we arrived, we realized we were right on time for a tour.  Guided tours are offered daily at 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM.  We joined at least 50 other patrons as a docent guided us through the busy rooms.  At first, I was discouraged when the docent stated she would show us only 4 pieces on the hour-long tour due to the large size of the group. But, I can honestly say, it was the best museum tour I have ever experienced.

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Kimbell Art Museum: Fantastic Art & Architecture

Today, we explore my favorite destination in Fort Worth, the Kimbell Art Museum!  The Kimbell is the most well-known of the three art museums in Fort Worth’s Cultural District.

Rebekah and I have visited the Kimbell Art Museum more than thirty times.  Always fresh and new, the museum exhibits traveling collections, hosts lectures, shows movies and offers concerts.

The Exterior of the Kahn Building - Kimbell Art Museum

The Exterior of the Kahn Building

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