Metropolitan Museam of Art
Rob Murphy
Art and Culture Extra Credit
My Second Visit to the Met
12/10/11
My second visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art was equally enjoyable as the first. On my first visit, I hovered around the American wing and Egyptian wing mainly. On the contrary, my second visit consisted of a trip to enjoy the Greek and Roman wing. Wings such as the Egyptian, are big enough to re-visit, as I was able too. The works I was able to enjoy on my second trip were the “Cleopatra” sculpture, and the world renowned “Perseus with a Head of Medusa”. The “Cleopatra” sculpture was quite a sensational one. It was carved by William Wetmore Story out of marble; spanning eleven years , it was completed in 1869. The Boston bred sculptor’s masterpiece is in Gallery of American painting and sculpture of the Met. This beautiful sculpture is of the Egyptian queen , born in 69 BC. Alike many of William Wetmore Story’s sculptures, Cleopatra is sitting down in a chair. The Queen is wearing a long dress with her left breast exposed. She is accessorized with jewelry and an Egyptian head piece. Her facial expressions and body positioning suggests she is is in a deep state of thought. “Whether reflecting on past behavior or contemplating future actions, the figures are thinking about deeds of cataclysmic significance”(Metropolitan Museum of Art). This suggests Cleopatra is said to be thinking of something of great significance.
The reason I chose the sculpture of Cleopatra as one of the works from my second visit is because it was understandable, and expresses a clear thought. She is a famous figure, and once I witnessed it , it was enjoyable to see something familiar. His sculpture made of marble is beyond my imagination of how someone could complete this. The neoclassical sculptors, “Cleopatra”, were one of William Wetmore Story’s most applauded works of art. The second work of art I appreciated on my trip to the Met was “Perseus with the Head of Medusa”. “Perseus with the
Art and Culture Extra Credit
My Second Visit to the Met
12/10/11
My second visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art was equally enjoyable as the first. On my first visit, I hovered around the American wing and Egyptian wing mainly. On the contrary, my second visit consisted of a trip to enjoy the Greek and Roman wing. Wings such as the Egyptian, are big enough to re-visit, as I was able too. The works I was able to enjoy on my second trip were the “Cleopatra” sculpture, and the world renowned “Perseus with a Head of Medusa”. The “Cleopatra” sculpture was quite a sensational one. It was carved by William Wetmore Story out of marble; spanning eleven years , it was completed in 1869. The Boston bred sculptor’s masterpiece is in Gallery of American painting and sculpture of the Met. This beautiful sculpture is of the Egyptian queen , born in 69 BC. Alike many of William Wetmore Story’s sculptures, Cleopatra is sitting down in a chair. The Queen is wearing a long dress with her left breast exposed. She is accessorized with jewelry and an Egyptian head piece. Her facial expressions and body positioning suggests she is is in a deep state of thought. “Whether reflecting on past behavior or contemplating future actions, the figures are thinking about deeds of cataclysmic significance”(Metropolitan Museum of Art). This suggests Cleopatra is said to be thinking of something of great significance.
The reason I chose the sculpture of Cleopatra as one of the works from my second visit is because it was understandable, and expresses a clear thought. She is a famous figure, and once I witnessed it , it was enjoyable to see something familiar. His sculpture made of marble is beyond my imagination of how someone could complete this. The neoclassical sculptors, “Cleopatra”, were one of William Wetmore Story’s most applauded works of art. The second work of art I appreciated on my trip to the Met was “Perseus with the Head of Medusa”. “Perseus with the
Bibliography: http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/search-the-collections?gallerynos=548&ft=* http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/20013020?rpp=20&pg=1&ft=cleopatra&pos=5 http://www.framemuseums.org/jsp/fiche_oeuvre.jsp?STNAV=&RUBNAV=&CODE=O115046173127831&LANGUE=1&RH=UsaFRAMEMuseums&OBJET_PROVENANCE=COLLECTION