With only one day in New York City we were limited to what we had time to see and do. After much deliberation we decided to combine a walk through Central Park with a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a top destinations for art lovers.
The Met is the 5th largest art gallery in the world and you cannot see all of in a single trip. We decided to focus on the paintings of the Italian Renaissance, Dutch Masters and Contemporary works by the Impressionists and Post Impressionists. After more than 3 hours we walked out satisfied but ready to return next time we visit the Big Apple.
So, in chronological order, here are our top 5 works of art in the Met after our first visit!
- Rembrandt Van Rijn – Self Portrait – 1660
With roughly 40 self portraits it is not uncommon to find a Rembrandt self portrait in any of the major galleries throughout the world. This was one painted when he was 54, and in it he was not afraid to show the effects of aging; his furrowed brow, the bags under his eyes and his double chin. If these portraits are so plentiful why do we continue to rank them in our top 5? Because it is like looking through a series of family photos and seeing a favoured uncle or grandfather age throughout their life. Rembrandt is familiar.
- Johannes Vermeer – Young Woman with a Water Pitcher- 1662
There are very few Vermeer paintings in existence (unlike the more prolific Rembrandt) and The Met has five (5); the most of any museum. This portrait is a typical domestic theme, intimate and bathed in light that is indicative of a Vermeer painting.
- Edgar Degas – Little Dancer – 1880
The ballet was a popular topic for Degas and there are a number of his paintings to explore at the Met, but the most appealing is a sculpture; the bronze cast of The Little Dancer. This work, originally done in wax, is of the Belgian 14 year old ballerina Marie Van Goethem and is 1/3 life size. Her tutu was restored in 2018 by the Met to mimic the original lace and ribbon. Although not popular during its time (it was referred to as “ugly”), there are three other versions of it, at the Musee D’Orsay in Paris and the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
- Vincent Van Gogh – Sunflowers – 1887
Van Gogh painted four of his sunflowers while in Paris during 1887. This one originally hung above the bed of his friend Paul Gauguin until he sold it to fund his south seas adventures. Among other paintings by Van Gogh found in The Met was the 1889 Wheat Field with Cypresses. Cypresses became a favourite during the painters time in St. Remy in the south of France. This one was regarded by the artist as one pf his “best” summer landscapes. Another version of it hangs in the National Gallery in London, UK.
- Claude Monet – Waterlilies – 1919
Monet’s garden in Giverny was one of his favourite settings to paint, and waterlilies one of his favourite items. This particular painting, again among a few others in The Met was painted when he was 80 years old. Recognized as the father of the Impressionist movement, Monet was a prolific and still popular painter.
There were so many other masterpieces that we enjoyed during our visit – far too many for one article. But don’t take our word for it. Next time you are in New York City visit the Met and find your own.