The Louvre in Paris, France is probably the most famous art gallery in the world. While it can also be considered a museum the art housed in the Louvre is truly stunning. The most famous piece of art in the Louvre is the Mona Lisa, by Da Vinci. This painting has been stolen and recovered, and is now kept under high security. The Louvre also houses many other famous paintings by Da Vinci and hundreds of other famous artists. In New York City, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a premier location for beautiful art masterpieces. The art gallery has an amazing collection of American paintings that will stun and impress any visitor. There are also paintings and statues housed there from all over the world, including many famous artists such as Botticelli, Raphael, and El Greco. London has an amazing gallery known as The National Gallery. This gallery boasts of some of the finest examples of European art, including paintings by Raphael, Manet, Leonardo Da Vinci, Renoir, and Monet. This gallery has a very large number of paintings and some of the most famous ones are: Sunflowers, by Vincent van Gogh, The Virgin of the Rocks, by Leonardo Da Vinci, and Venus and Mars, by Sandro Botticelli. Other than the traditional art galleries found all over the world that house the old greats, there are many that focus on the contemporary arts of the twentieth century. The George Pompidou Center in Paris is one of the most famous contemporary art galleries and museums in the world. Even the building itself is totally contemporary, with all the ducts and piping on the outside. Contemporary art galleries and museums typically feature not only paintings, drawings, and prints, but exhibits of furniture, sound, light, and even music. Visiting these galleries can be a fascinating visit through the past few decades and shows how much style and taste has changed. Each major city in Europe typically has a traditional national art gallery, a contemporary gallery, and usually many more, including private art galleries. If you are visiting any major metropolitan center then a visit to the area’s many art galleries is a must. Most national galleries feature art from the history of their country. You can learn a great deal about a country and its culture by viewing the way their art has changed over the years. For those that want to possess these works of art, the only place to visit is the private galleries. The exhibits in national galleries are not for sale. While private galleries offer some good works of art, they do not house the greats such as the Renoirs or Van Gogh’s. Another option is to visit auction houses such as Christie’s that often hold art auctions. These auctions feature some stunning pieces that you can bid on and possibly acquire if the pockets are deep. Art is an important part of any history. Paying a visit to a gallery can transport you back in time, where you can see works produced by some of the most creative minds to ever exist.
Posts Tagged ‘Mona Lisa’
Paris Art Galleries
December 21st, 2009Guide to European Art Galleries for Art Groups
September 12th, 2009Paris is famous its art displays. The Musee de Louvre is on everybody’s list. Francois Mitterand’s glass pyramid entrance is no longer a controversy, now being considered an exhibit in its own right. Operating since 1795 “de Louvre” has an unrivaled collection of antiquity. This is where one must go to see original works of Da Vinci, with the Mona Lisa being among the most famous exhibits. The city of lights also hosts galleries dedicated to Picasso and Monet, named Musee Picasso and Musee Marmottan Claude Monet respictively. Monet lovers will have to visit the Musee de l’orangerie as well. The de l’orangerie is once again open and features many of Monet’s waterline series and other art from the early 1900′s. Picasso and Renoir among others.
For modern urban expressionist art in Paris the place to go is to the American Museum of Art. A local favorite is the Musee D’ Orsay located in a former train station and displaying impressionist and post impressionist paintings. Rome is a “blue chip” city to visit when touring art galleries on the continent. American historians find the Galleria Borghese and Galleria Collona interesting due to the dates of their origins. Both the Borghese and Collona were being built in the 1600′s with the latter completed in 1704 while the colonies were struggling for their own identity.
The Spada Gallery features paintings from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries with some Roman statues from the second and third centuries. A small gallery, the Spada is an impressive stop with the statue of Pompey in the main Pallazo. The foot of the Pompey of course being the most commonly given location for the murder of Julius Caesar. In typical German fashion, displaying art is taken seriously in Berlin. The most famous and most visited museum is the Pergamon Museum. An antiquity collection, A near East collection and display of Islamic art draw over eight hundred thousand visitors per year. Any period from Egyptian to modern can be found displayed in Berlin.
The Maurmuseum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie is a small and focused display of Berlin’s most famous checkpoint during the cold war. Recordings, texts, films, and objects are on display with some tied to daring escapes and attempts. Lectures are given by those with firsthand knowledge to share and a tour for your group can be arranged.
London offers the tour group British art displayed in a depth found nowhere else. Trafalgar Square houses the National Gallery with works from the mid thirteenth century to the early twentieth century. North of Trafalgar Square is the National Portrait Gallery with an unrivaled collection of portraits of significant and historical figures.
The Mall galleries opened in 1971 offer more contemporary works and often display work of up and coming artists. The Tate Modern is another London Gallery that augments the traditional displays with new and existing art. With the quality offerings available, your group should have a memorable experience touring Europe.
By: Robert Meldrum
