HISTORY OF MUSEUMS IN THE WEST
Part II Tory Talayi
HISTORY OF MUSEUMS IN THE WEST TIMELINE
Part II
BRITISH MUSEUM
Sir Robert Smirke, British Museum, London 1823--1852
o The British Museum opened in 1759 o Physician Sir Hans Sloane gave his collection of over 71,000 objects to Great Britain o In 1757 King George II donated the old royal library to the museum o Today the British Museum has an estimate of 5 million visitors per year o Sir William Hamilton, gave his collection of Roman Vases to the museum o On-going controversial Elgin Marbles are housed in the museum o Infamous Rosetta Stone is housed inside o The Museum has always had free admission
ELGIN MARBLES In 1800 Earl Elgin with a team of architects, painters, and sculptors began work in Athens, studying the ruins of the Parthenon in Acropolis. A firman (letter of instruction) was attained by Elgin, giving him permission to study and work on the property without interference from Athenians. In 1810, another firman allowed remaining antiquities to be collected by Elgin. The firman was given as a diplomatic gesture, Greece, while it was occupied. Elgin “rescued” many sculptures and other artifacts from any more possible future damage, and took them back to Great Britain to be displayed in the British Museum. Now that Athens has a proper museum to house their antiquities, they want them back. There is an on-going debate of the legal and The Elgin Marbles Room, British Museum moral ramifications of the request.
Sir Hans Sloane (1660–1753)
CHARLES WILSON PEALE Peale established the first catalogue in 1796 Peale named his children Rembrandt, Raphael, and Titian Peale believed there was a close relationship between art and nature Peale was originally from Baltimore, Maryland Peale is responsible for the founding of two different kinds of museums: natural sciences and fine arts o Alongside his scientific artifacts, Peale would display portraits of famous American Founding members, such as: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams o o o o o Charles Wilson Peale, "Self Portrait of the Artist in His Museum," 1822
Philosophical Hall, built between 1785 and 1789
Original 1811 The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia (copy after an engraving)
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1876, Frank Furness
CRYSTAL PALACE
The Front of the Crystal Palace Illustration, 1851, Architect Paxton
o o o o o o o o
Designed by Sir Joseph Paxton Took Sir Joseph Paxton 10-days to make design and plan Was described as a “giant greenhouse” Held over 13,000 exhibits Was viewed by over 6 million people Design influenced future expositions and fairs Huge iron structure Over a million feet of glass
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (First Building -- 1874-1880) Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mold, architects, Photo, The Met
o o o o o o o
Originally built in 1872 in NYC Founded by businessmen, financiers, and artists Original façade in the Greek Gothic Revival Style Moved to its current location at Central Park in 1880 Non-Profit Corporation Houses works by Franz Hals, Van Dyck, Vermeer, and Renoir Has 17 curator departments
“Collect, preserve, study, exhibit, and stimulate appreciation for an advanced knowledge of works of art that collectively represent the broadest spectrum of human achievement at the highest level of quality, all in service of the public and accordance on the highest professional standards.” - The Metropolitan Museum of Art Mission Statement
The Met Today - Front Photo 2000
BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART
John Russel Pope, BMA East Façade, 1929
o The BMA has about 300,000 visitors a year o Today the BMA houses a collection of over 85,000 objects, including many artists, such as: Matisse, Picasso, Renoir, and Gauguin o The original façade of the BMA was in the classical style o The BMA is the largest museum in Maryland o Currently admission to the museum is free o One edition of Rodin’s famous “Thinker” sculptures is located at the BMA
Portrait Claribel & Etta Cone, 1925 Bower, Lewis and Thrower, BMA Newer Wing, 1982 and 1994
THE GETTY
The Getty, Santa Monica http://www.getty.edu/
The Getty Center is also a: o Research Institute o Conservation Institute o Leadership Institute o Has Grant Programs
The Getty, Renaissance Bronze Gallery
INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN
o The IMOW calls itself “A Museum Without Walls” o The IMOW challenges the traditional definition of a museum o Is a “Creative Catalyst” o Allows visitors to participate and be interactive, more so than in the past o The IMOW uses Twitter and Facebook to spread awareness of its many online exhibitions
IMOW's current exhibition Economica highlights the role that women play in the global economy. Image taken from the International Museum of Women website http://www.imow.org/home/index.
THE MUSEUM OF LIVERPOOL o o o o o o o
Has a 180 seat theater Finds ways to be part of the 21st Century It is a 21st Century Museum from conception to construction Has an overhead Railway Gallery Contains a special gallery for children called “Little Liverpool” Has a large contemporary spiral staircase Is the largest newly built museum in the United Kingdom in over 100 years!
The Museum of Liverpool, Liverpool, England Photograph by: Pete Carr, Philip Handforth, and Richard White
THE MUSEUM OF LIVERPOOL WON THE PRESTIGIOUS COUNCIL OF EUROPE PRIZE IN 2013
Spiral Staircase inside the Museum of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, Reptonix free Creative Commons licensed photos.