There is something about black and white art that fascinates me. Whenever I see a great drawing, I find i have an itch to take up a pencil and draw a cloud, an architectural detail, Moses parting the Red Sea (just kidding), but I always get sidetracked.
And besides, after seeing this exhibit, and seeing the possibilities that a line of black ink can be in the hands of such a master as Rembrandt, well.......
So here is a good sample of the Worcester Art Museum's exhibition. which was glorious, inspiring, and very highly recommended.
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| Frieze on the wall of the atrium as you enter the museum. (about 220 BC) |
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| detail of above |
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| The atrium from the second floor, showing the famous mosaic floor |
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| And on to the Rembrandt exhibit. I apologize for not having all the titles. |
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detail of above
I have become somewhat obsessed by faces in my old age. |
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| detail of above |
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| The Three Crosses, 1653 |
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| The Death of the Virgin, 1639 |
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detail of above
What great emotions Rembrandt can create with a single black line! |
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| A scholar in his Study ("Faust") 1654 |
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| Christ Presented to the People, 1655 |
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| Landscape with Three Gabled Cottages beside a Road, 1650 |
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| Landscape with a Cottage and a Large Tree, 1641 |
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| Landscape with a Square Tower, 1650 |
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| The Strolling Musicians, about 1635 |
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| The Pancake Woman, 1635 |
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| Self Portrait with Saskia, 1636 |
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| Self Portrait with Raised Saber, 1634 |
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| Old Man with Beard, Fur Cap, and Velvet Coat, about 1631 |
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| Saint Jerome Reading in an Italian Landscape, 1651 |
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| Saint Jerome Reading, 1634 |
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| Christ Preaching ("Le Petite Tombe") |
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| Abraham's Sacrifice, 1655 |
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| The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds, 1634 |
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| The Return of the Prodigal Son, 1636 |
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| detail (incredible!) |
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| The Descent from the Cross, 1633 |
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detail (how did Beethoven get in there?)
And to a few of the museum's permanent collection, |
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| A Sargent not in the MFA exhibition! |
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| detail of above |
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Aert van der Neer 1603-77
A Village Scene in Winter with a Frozen River, 1640's |
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Jan Asselijn, 1610-52
Frozen Moat Outside City Walls, 1647 |
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| Armor for Field and Tilt of Count Franz von Traffenbach, 1516 |
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Workshop of Jan Breughel the Elder
Venus at the Forge of Vulcan |
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detail
(speaking of attention to detail!) |
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detail
The huge Higgens armor collection had it's own museum for many years, but fell on hard
times, and Covid, and so the Worcester Art Museum absorbed that collection.
It is a wonderful museum, and we visited with Barbara and Bill, who had not seen the
museum before. |
