"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance."- Aristotle
As a design student, I'm privileged enough to be granted free access to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I've been many times before, both alone and with friends, but my favorite visits were those which were guided by my professors; had my design professor not stopped to ask one of the museum employees for a magnifying glass, we all would have walked by Jan van Eyck's St. Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata without having noticed the ridiculously detailed cityscape background. Every time I leave with the notion that I've seen all there is to see, but once I had several Art History courses under my belt I began to notice and understand things I had not previously. That's all there is to it, being able to notice subtleties that would otherwise go unrecognized.
This is a reconstruction of a cloister from an Abbey church in France.
A cast of The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, which was originally a figure on The Gates of Hell.
Fifty Days at Iliam: The Fire that Consumes All before It
Cy Twombly's ten-piece collection of drawings, which illustrate Homer's Iliad, is probably my favorite collection. What I like most is the reaction it elicits from most viewers.
"The true artist helps the world by revealing mystic truths."
I didn't know design students could have free access! Is it only for students at your college, or colleges in the area?
ReplyDelete-Kate
I'm almost certain it applies to all the schools in Center City. At my school specifically, our professors give us a sticker each term that we put on our ID that proves we're required to visit the museum as part of our curriculum. I'd ask one of your advisers to see if it applies to you!
ReplyDelete-Courtney
Cy Twombly's Iliad drawings are my favorite too! I am also pretty fond of Prometheus Bound.
ReplyDeleteSigh, I need to stop by the museum soon; I haven't been in a while and this has made me miss it.
Rubens is pretty spectacular. During one of my latest visits, I walked past an elementary school class whose teacher was asking them to analyze Prometheus Bound and their insight was rather impressive!
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