My top 3 galleries/ museums

Orla Casey
Jun 17, 2017
5 min read

1. Musée d'Orsay, Paris

Without a doubt, the Musée d'Orsay in Paris has been my favourite art space that I have ever visited. Bursting with masterpieces from artists such as Cezanne, Delacroix, Millet, Caillebotte, Rodin, Courbet, Degas, Gauguin, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Seurat and Van Gogh, it has an unbelievably extensive range of works. Obviously if you despise impressionism and post- impressionism or Parisian art in general, this place is more than likely not for you but it hosts such a wide variety of works that I would be confident in saying that it truly has something for everyone.

Open since 1986, the museum represents "the great diversity of artistic creation in the western world between 1848 and 1914."

As well as painting, the spacious museum also houses sculpture, decorative arts, photography, graphic arts, and architecture drawings which makes an undeniably whole museum.

My favourite pieces from the collection include:

i). Alexander Cabanel's, Birth of Venus (1863)

This is possibly my favourite painting of all time- a bold but worthy statement.

This painting was first introduced at the Salon exhibition of 1863 and later purchased by Napoleon III for his own collection. This painting was a bold statement for Cabanel to portray Venus in such an erotic and open display. Through the variety of copies and casts made of the Goddess, her popularity was evident from the beginning of the history of art. The portrayal of Venus transforms greatly throughout art. She begins to be presented as an innocent, vulnerable and platonic figure. During many periods in art, we see her develop into a more powerful, sexual and erotic female figure. She becomes a strong object of desire as shown in Cabanel's painting.

During the time of this painting, realism was beginning to develop in France and Manet painted Olympia (1863, also in Musee D’Orsay) within the same year. This meant that erotic art was becoming more common than ever before. This particular image depicts a nude Venus reclining over the peak of the ocean as cherubs surround her. She obscures her face however, the lower half of her body is turned towards us and her form is entirely open. Although her gaze is not inviting us in, her turned body suggests that she is parading her body and asking us to admire it.

Cabanel’s Venus differs greatly to previous depictions of Venus being born as at this time this painting was the only depiction where the Goddess is not being born in an expression of purity and innocence. This is what attracted visitors to view this work of art in the salon as it was breaking new ground and artistic traditions.

The painting is so delicately painted and the colours are light and romantic, making it a truly inviting and enjoyable piece to admire.

ii). Edouard Manet's, Le dejeuner sur l'herbe (1862)

I remember learning about how controversial and bold that this painting was at the time that it was created so to see it in the flesh was a treat.

Manet originally submitted this to the Salon of 1863, the same one that Cabanel had entered but Manet's painting was rejected for being too controversial - you could not possibly have nude women outside with men who were fully clothed... So it was then selected for the Salon Des Refuses (an exhibition composing of the rejected original Salon pieces). It became an instant hit for its riskiness and arguably changed the face of art at the time. Although there were classical references, the public only saw it for the boldness which is what it then became known for.

Not only is it an interesting painting to see because of its history and scandal but it is also one to be admired as it is so beautifully painted. There is no real softness to it - there are contrasts between each element which help them to stand out even more. The whole piece is created with quite a dark palette but the female figure's skin to the front completely shines brighter than anything else in the painting, urging us to believe that she is the focal point.

Le dejeuner sur l'herbe was Manet's way of rejecting adhering to convention and as the Musee D'Orsay put it, this could possibly have been the departure for Modern Art, representing just how important this painting was.

iii). Jean-François Millet, The Gleaners (1857)

Again, this one stands out for me as being yet again controversial and one that I always remembered from the day I learned about it, because of this.

Millet had carried out over 10 years of research on these people to master the portrayal of their life which represents his devout dedication. The painting represents these everyday women in their daily routine of gleaning a field of stray grains of wheat after the harvest.

Surprise surprise the French upper classes of the 1857 Salon exhibition did not enjoy the painting because it depicted the lower class, every day people who had to work to make a living - something that they could not associate with. They felt that these women should not be praised when in fact that's exactly the way it should have been. It was realistic.

This painting is also fairly large which overwhelms you and you have no choice but to be invited in to the scene. A must see.

At entry prices at €12 for adults and €9 concession, the price is extremely affordable considering the art that you are getting to see here.

2. National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh

I had absolutely no expectations for this gallery and decided to visit on a trip to Edinburgh but was pleasantly surprised which is why it takes the number two slot.

My favourite piece from the whole collection is John constable's the Vale of Dedham (1828). Perhaps I am biased as I adore John Constable but this painting is just, so him. It represents his home town which is the main theme for his paintings but it is painted in such a way that you get a sense of place and can picture him with his paint ready to rock.

It is so delicately painted and the colours make the painting even more realistic. You can also feel the weather here and how cold and blustery it must be which is definitely difficult to capture but Constable does it to perfection.

The permanent collection is completely free where this painting by Constable is but there is some charge for selected temporary exhibitions.

3. MOMA

If you visit New York- MOMA is an absolute must see and I am going to go out there and say that this was the best thing that I did in New York..

My favourite piece here was without a doubt, Jackson Pollock's One: Number 31 (1950). I understand that there are plenty of people who don't "get" Pollock or don't find his work that interesting but as a massive fan of him myself, I loved seeing this piece in person.

The man there is used for scale as it shows how overwhelming this painting is. From looking at it, I thoroughly get the sense of the movement in how he created these pieces.

This museum also houses Van Gogh's Starry Night which of course is a must see as well as pieces by Picasso, Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns each of whom I adore.