Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Delaware Art Museum



On Sunday we ventured out to the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington for the last day of their exhibit on Maxfield Parrish (sorry couldn't take photos of that - it was amazing though).
The DE Art Museum is such a gem, one of my favorite small museums. It won't overwhelm you like The Metropolitan or the Philadelphia Art Museum. The best part is, it houses an impressive collection of my two favorite styles of art: illustration and Pre-Raphaelite. And... get this... on Sundays, it's free!
Here are some photos from our day...



 "Crying Giant"  - awwww, poor guy.





I could stare at this piece all day. I didn't get the artist's name but it looks like N.C.Wyeth.




A fine example of American illustration. The Peacock Robe by George Watson Barratt. This was Zoe's favorite painting of the day.



A lovely Rossetti painting.




The Spring Witch by George Wilson (1880)
I think this was my favorite in their Pre Raphaelite exhibit.




More modern art upstairs. Here's a wonderful Deborah Butterfield horse sculpture.
 The cabinet my family is looking at in the background was amazing. It's called the Queen's Closet by Richard Cleaver. Made of beads, wood and ceramic, it's the ultimate mixed media piece of art. When knobs are pulled and drawers are opened, they reveal images of king Henry VIII's 6 wives. On the back it shows their fate...






Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable. ~George Bernard Shaw

12 comments:

Jennifer Rose said...

that cabinet is amazing looking! so much work :) lots of nice paintings to see there

Rue said...

I really love that you take the time to go to these exhibits, shows, and farms and show us around! I know that Zoe is getting so much learning out of this! Good for you - and thanks for the pics!

Theresa MacNaughton said...

Oh, such gorgeous works of art! I love Rossetti, and I don't think I've ever seen a piece in person. I agree with Zoe - my favorite here is The Peacock Robe. The sculptures are amazing - and that cabinet is just beyond words! All the detail is astounding. I'll be keeping this museum in mind!!!
Theresa :)

phaedra96 said...

Wow, that cabinet is absolutely amazing!! Is it wood carved or what? I do wood carving but that is waaaaay out of my league!

First Draught Farm said...

Love the cabinet/tombstone exhibit.

Jennifer MacNeill said...

I believe the cabinet was made out of wood with the sculptural elements made out of clay. I have a link to him website in this post. Maybe it has more info.

Jeni said...

Museums are so much fun. We have a very large art museum here in Cincinnati. It has free admission and I love to go and just sit and watch people watching art.

Unknown said...

Hi Jennifer !
Joan Jannaman here from the EAG....I was so excited to see your posting here about the Delaware Art Museum...near and dear to my heart . I used to be an art teacher at the Sanford School in Hockessin back in the late 70's and took my students there all the time. Also, my Dad would take me there growing up. My favorite...N.C.Wyeth. My Dad attended scholarship classes there for gifted art students as a young teenager back in the depression years and one of the guest teachers he studied under was N.C.Wyeth. So, anyway...I'll always have a soft spot for this museum...it really is a gem. Thanks for posting...you made my day:-).

Linda said...

If its the same artist, I remeber Wyeths work from illustrations in books, of Knights,robin hood and Last of the Mohicans, they were fabulous.

Bonnie Story said...

How wonderful to see that original Hopper piece in the first pic! Wow! I would love to see resurgence in interest in visiting and supporting our American museums. It's a wonderful antidote to many of the things that are wrong with modern hyper-culture. Great reminder to make time to go, and GO! Thank you so much. Cheers! Bonnie

Molly Anne said...

That Peacock Robe painting was fabulous! It would probably be my favorite too. It reminds me a bit of Mucha.

Also loved the Rossetti.

And that poor Spring Witch looks very stunned. Either she is surprised by the cold or maybe by the fact that all she's wearing is an impossibly draped ghostly swirl...not sure which. ;)

Linda said...

Wow--I'm fascinated with the art walk. The Queen's Cabinet is amazing--and there is something bewitching about all the women in the paintings. I agree with Molly, I think the Spring witch is surprised by the cold. LOL.