Scan barcode
A review by pattydsf
Rendez-vous with Art by Martin Gayford, Philippe de Montebello
4.0
“If we stand in front of a work of art twice, at least one party – the viewer or the subject - will be somewhat transformed on the second occasion. Works of art mutate through time, albeit slowly, as they are cleaned or ‘conserved’, or as their constituent materials age.
…We, the viewers, however, are even more fluctuating.”
It has been more than a month since I read this book. A friend found it through serendipity and something I said to her made her recommend this fascinating book. I am so glad she recommended this to me. I would have never found it on my own.
This is a conversation that takes place between the former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a renowned art critic. They visit a number of art museums and talk about specific pieces that they view. I know that this description does not do justice to the book.
Maybe this will provide more clarity to how I feel about this conversation and the book: I am still thinking about what transpires between these two men. I think my view of art and museums has been changed forever. I went to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts last week and the art I viewed looked different to me.
De Montebello (the curator) is extremely knowledgeable about art and about how museums have changed over the years. It never occurred to me to think about the relationship between museums and people’s view of art. Not only the relationship, but how that connection has changed over time. You may not agree with de Montebello about what is good art, but you won’t be sorry that you heard his opinion.
If you have any interest in art, I highly recommend this book to you. The conversations are amazing, the art pictured is beautiful and what you might learn about art, museums and people may help you see all three differently.
…We, the viewers, however, are even more fluctuating.”
It has been more than a month since I read this book. A friend found it through serendipity and something I said to her made her recommend this fascinating book. I am so glad she recommended this to me. I would have never found it on my own.
This is a conversation that takes place between the former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a renowned art critic. They visit a number of art museums and talk about specific pieces that they view. I know that this description does not do justice to the book.
Maybe this will provide more clarity to how I feel about this conversation and the book: I am still thinking about what transpires between these two men. I think my view of art and museums has been changed forever. I went to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts last week and the art I viewed looked different to me.
De Montebello (the curator) is extremely knowledgeable about art and about how museums have changed over the years. It never occurred to me to think about the relationship between museums and people’s view of art. Not only the relationship, but how that connection has changed over time. You may not agree with de Montebello about what is good art, but you won’t be sorry that you heard his opinion.
If you have any interest in art, I highly recommend this book to you. The conversations are amazing, the art pictured is beautiful and what you might learn about art, museums and people may help you see all three differently.