My Favorite Drawing and Artefact at Morgan Library & Museum in New York City

Morgan Library & Museum in New York City is one of many jewels in that grand city.

I was great touched by a drawing study of Peter Paul Rubens, Seated Male Youth (Study for Daniel), done in lack chalk, heightened with white chalk, on light gray paper. This drawing, a preparatory work for painting Daniel in the Lions' Den, depicted the agonized youth in supplication. The heightened facial emotion and the tensed torso of the muscular sitter, the bold outlines, the effective shading, and the detailed and accurate facial and hand features, left a great impression on viewers. As usual, one could see Ruben's genuine touches and craftsmanship on his drawings and oil sketches, versus his monumental finished works, which often were completed by his assistants under his supervision.


Seated Nude Youth Seated Male Youth (Study for Daniel), Peter Paul Rubens
Black chalk, heightened with white chalk, on light gray paper
19 11/16 x 11 3/4 inches (500 x 299 mm)

Another marvelous thing I admired at Morgan Library & Museum was a cylinder seal and its impression, A Winged Hero Contesting with a Lion for a Bull, dating to Neo-Babylonian period (ca.1000–539 B.C.). From the rectangular impression, one could see the fine details of the proud hero, the roaring lion, and the hapless bull between the powerful rivals. The fine details of numerous curly formations of the hair,  the beard, the mane, the wings, and the claws, were all rendered with amazing control. The enigmatic cuneiform writing, helped to balance the composition, also added depth to the wonderful tableau.


A Winged Hero Contesting with a Lion for a Bull, Cylinder seal and impression
Mesopotamia, Neo-Babylonian period ca.1000–539 B.C.
Carnelian 38.5 x 18 mm

My Favorite Museum Collection Series
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My Favorite Artworks at Palazzo della Ragione, Padova (Padua), Italy

The gracefully proportioned Palazzo della Ragione in Padova (Padua), Italy, was a unique building, which was not only enormous in dimensions, but functions uniquely as a market place in its lower level, and a civic center on the top tier.

The most outlandish thing, and my favorite, was a huge wooden horse, basked in blue light (or was it painted blue?). According to Padovaincoming.it,

"the big wooden horse kept in Palazzo della Ragione was ordered by Annibale Capodilista in 1466: it was one of the big machines - and the only one that has survived - made for an extraordinary celebration that was organized in Padua, in the squares Piazza dei Signori and Piazza del Capitanio. The parade saw the participation of all the people in town, and of more people who had been attracted to town for this exceptional event." [Source: Padovaincoming.it]

Apparently, Padova artists and civic leaders were the vanguard of flashy blockbuster installations almost mandated in today's art markets.  Cynicism aside, the horse was indeed eye-catching and exhilarating.





On the four walls of this gigantic hall, surrounding and contrasting the blue horse, were a series of marvelous allegorical frescoes, all in wonderfully aged colors, subtle and harmonious.  Collectively, they were my second favorite there.



My Favorite Museum Collection Series
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<< My Favorite Museum Collection Series 114: My Favorite Artworks at Duomo, Padova (Padua), Italy

List of My Favorite Artworks in the Museums I've Visited

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My Favorite Reliefs in Franziskanerkirche, Graz

The Franziskanerkirche in Graz was visually pleasing in its simplicity, befitting to its name; even its many multiple-colored stained glass windows didn't distract from its purifying sparseness.



In that rather somber and scantly decorated space, what I found most striking was a small format relief cycle on the life of Jesus.  These emotionally charged reliefs were as simply and economically delineated as the church itself - terse, understated, and never showy or ostentatious.



Amongst this cycle, I found these two pieces below were most exemplary - The Nailing of Jesus to the Cross and The Resurrection:


The Nailing of Jesus to the Cross


Resurrection

The interplay and dialogues between the reliefs consisted of monochromatic and line drawing-like figures and the flat and light maroon tinted background, helped to create a somber and sanctified atmosphere and classic timelessness.  The drama was not diminished when the wrenching and emotional scenes were not presented in some obvious and overwrought styles; rather, the constraints of the execution of these reliefs enhanced their emotional impact.


My Favorite Museum Collection Series
>> My Favorite Museum Collection Series 98:  My Favorite Artworks in Palazzo Ducale, Venezia (Doge Palace, Venice)
<< My Favorite Museum Collection Series 96: My Favorite Altar and Fresco at Barmherzigenkirche, Graz

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Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

This morning, when I went downstairs to get my morning newspaper, I was startled by the big package.  Giving thanks to this?  No way.





These are the things I thank for:







Happy holiday!