Cultural Activity Report
I visited the Met Museums virtual gallery for this cultural activity report and selected five works of art from ancient times up to pre-modern times (1600 AD). The Met Museum of art houses a wide range of cultural and artistic artifacts from all over the world from various epochs and so it was a good place to go for virtual engagement with art covering a range of millennia. My initial reaction when exploring the online museum was one of interest and wonder because I am naturally interested in artistic expressions as I feel they convey the soul of an era. At the same time, I found many works to be interesting on their own merit because they captured a beauty and an honesty that is often touching and moves one beyond words.
The most ancient piece I selected from the Met for my display is dated from 1000 BC and is from ancient Egypt. It is known as the Faience amulet of Bes. This is an interesting piece because it says something about the religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians: Bes was seen as a divine entity who protected the homes of the Egyptians and who was also a protector of women and children. This means that the Egyptians recognized that they needed the aid of a divine being to protect what to them seemed vulnerable. While I find most religious art to be beautiful and uplifting, this amulet of Bes is actually somewhat hideous and I cannot help but wonder whether its protective power lies in its ability to frighten would-be aggressors away. It strikes me as having the same qualities as would...…era. This is another Christian religious work, and the face is that of the Virgin Mary. The drawing itself could easily be said to be that of any beautiful woman as there is nothing symbolic about the work to convey the fact that it is meant to be the Virgin. My reaction to this piece was one of admiration for the skill of Leonardo, but I am somewhat befuddled as to how it represents the Virgin. Nonetheless, I selected it because it is by a great master and I wanted at least one work from a recognizable name. After all, it is the role of the curator of a museum to draw attention to great works, and sometimes that means having a headliner (an artist with renown) to draw the interest of the public. Beyond that, it is the role of the…
Museum Comparison Art museums The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is one of the most famous art museums in the world. The idea for a large museum located in the city of New York was first formulated in 1866 when the statesman John Jay resolved to create a place to house America's great art collections in a central urban area. By the 20th century, the Museum achieved Jay's goal
Splashes of color like red and several shades of blue are added to the collage in a "dragonfly, wing-like" formation. A cutout photograph of a boy is pasted on the "wing" of a lighter shade of blue, perhaps to note a sense of calm to his surroundings. The Hawkins' exhibit will consist of 80 objects, a retrospective of his nearly a quarter of a century career. The work is described
The above perception of the insanity of life is not at all apparent in the second painting of Georges Seurat. While it is mystical, it gives too much quiescence that is there with the impressionistic style. This like Picasso's painting above is a happy trip and does not exhibit as much negative energy as Picasso. He also does not seem to be trying to summon any primitive energies. Rather Seurat's
Art "Sacrifice of Isaac" Analysis This paper will focus upon Lorenzo Ghiberti and one of his artistic works called "Sacrifice of Isaac." The paper will provide a context within which to explain and evaluate this sculpture. Referencing art history, world history, and the artist's personal history, the paper will explore and analyze "Sacrifice of Isaac" as a seminal work of a famous artist that serves as a masterpiece representing the entire artistic
Ancient Greek art has survived most successfully in the forms of sculpture and architecture, as well as in such minor arts as coin design, pottery and gem engraving. Greek architecture relied on two main styles, namely the Doric and the Ionic. The names were given by the Ancient Greeks themselves, who believed that these architectural styles were derived from the gods (Chase: 122). Ancient Greek art has survived most successfully
C.E., is an outstanding example of "the sedate, idealized manner now recognized as Augustan," a reference to the Roman emperor Augustus of the early Roman Empire period. Thus, this marble statue symbolizes Augustus "proclaiming a diplomatic victory to the citizens of Rome" (Kjellberg, 1968, 245). Artistically, it is of the highest quality, much like the Doryphoros, and was probably executed by a Greek artist which explains why it is somewhat similar