While some museums take a mere hour to get around, others are admired as their home city’s top-ranking attraction. From Washington DC to Bilbao, the world’s most admired art museums are teeming with priceless works of art, from remnants of ancient civilisations to historical artefacts, sculptures and modern art.
Jeremy Casson is a leading art conservator who worked for several public institutions before launching his own practice, where he provides mentorship to the next generation of conservators. This article will provide an overview of some of the world’s most celebrated art museums and the masterpieces that can be viewed there.
The Louvre, Paris, France
Home to Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Louvre also boasts the ancient Egyptian rooms, a world-famous collection that attracts visitors from near and far. Renovated in 1983, when IM Pei’s steep glass pyramids were integrated, the Louvre was transformed from a stuffy national museum to a dazzling architectural marvel in its own right. In addition to perusing exhibits by Da Vinci and Van Gogh, visitors should also set aside ample time to browse the impressive Dürer and Delacroix collections. Home to more than 38,000 artifacts categorised in eight specific departments, the Louvre is located in Central Paris, ranking as one of the world’s oldest and most popular art museums.
Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain
Attracting over three million visitors each year, the Museo del Prado is Spain’s national art museum, housing Spanish paintings dating back as far as the 11th century, as well as various masterpieces from foreign artists such as Rembrandt and Van Dyck. In addition to housing 7,600 paintings, the Museo del Prado is also home to 8,200 drawings, 1,000 sculptures and 4,800 prints, exhibiting a large number of other artefacts and works of art, along with a sizable collection of historic documents.
Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
Boasting an array of classical works, the Uffizi entices art afficionados from all over the world. Some visitors have been so affected by their experience that they have required a hospital visit, with Florence being the birthplace of ‘Stendhal syndrome’, after all. Nothing prepares the observer for sights such as Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. Other spectacular Renaissance paintings exhibited by this Italian art institution include Artemisia Gentileschi’s Judith Slaying Holofernes and Caravaggio’s Medusa.
The National Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Welcoming more than 6.2 million visitors each year, the National Gallery is situated in Trafalgar Square, right at the beating heart of Central London. Established in 1824, it is home to more than 2,300 paintings, with some exhibits dating back as far as the mid-13th century. In addition to possessing the oldest known surviving copy of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, the National Gallery also houses priceless masterpieces from other world-renowned artists, including works by Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Monet.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, United States of America
Situated in bustling Manhattan, the Metropolitan Museum of Art ranks as one of the world’s most popular museums, attracting more than seven million visitors each year. Opened in 1872, the Met is home to more than two million artefacts housed across 17 specific cultural departments. The institution operates with a keen focus on art education for the American public, hosting a vast collection of artifacts including masterpieces by Van Gogh, Matisse and Picasso.
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, Korea
Seoul’s National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art reached out to a global audience during lockdown, digitising its collections and enabling people to browse its priceless collections without leaving their home. From its outdoor sculpture park to the colourful abstract works of Yoo Youngkuk, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art encapsulates Seoul’s love for the vibrant and gaudy.
Jeremy Casson: Pottery Tips for Beginners
Jeremy Casson is a leading art conservator in the UK who runs his own practice, mentoring other conservators. This article will look at the art of pottery, providing pointers and tips to help beginners learn how to throw.
Learning to master the potter’s wheel can be an extremely challenging process, and it demands a great deal of patience and practice. Just like learning to play the piano or drive a car, learning to throw can be frustrating at times. However, though there are no magic tricks, with the right instructions, beginners can learn the art of throwing in no time.
To be successful, potters must learn the theory of wheel throwing, acquiring practical skills as they go. The earlier they understand how the clay responds to the forces they and the wheel are placing on it, the easier the process will become.
When throwing, potters can make life a lot easier for themselves by ensuring their elbows are braced against something. Some experienced potters recommend bracing the left elbow against the left hip with the right forearm on the splash pan, with the arms only becoming free when the pot is nearing completion.
In pottery, speed is crucial. The wheel must start fast, gradually turning more slowly. Although it may seem counterintuitive, centring should be done with the wheel at full speed, as the faster the wheel is turning the easier it will be. Once the pot is centred, the potter should shift down the gears as the pot increases in size. The taller the pot, the greater the centrifugal forces upon it, with thinner walls making it more likely to flop. When opening out and compressing the base, the wheel should be turning at three-quarters speed, moving up to half speed as the potter pulls out the walls. The taller the pot grows, the slower the wheel should turn.
To ensure consistency, potters should weigh their clay to make sure they are practicing with the same amount each time they throw. Wedging the clay or putting it through a pug mill before throwing makes centring easier. Centring the clay right in the middle of the wheel will make life much easier than attempting to centre it later on.
Hot clay is a telltale sign that it is time to lubricate the hands with more water. The amount of water used while throwing is key. Only with experience will the potter get their water usage right, but sticky clay is a surefire way of producing a crooked pot. At the same time, however, it is equally important to avoid using too much water, as this will culminate in clay ebbing away into the splash pan, with the piece growing smaller and smaller. In addition, if the clay absorbs too much water, the walls will fold and the shape will flop. To achieve the right balance, the potter should throw with a trickle of warm water. Rather than flooding the pot, the potter should apply just enough water to keep it glossy. Warm water is easier on the hands; cold water will affect their responsiveness, resulting in numbness and affecting the ligaments and muscles.
Learning to throw clay is like learning to ride a horse. Like a wild animal, clay requires a solid understanding of its behaviour to work with it rather than against it. Becoming a master potter is a long and arduous process for most people that demands patience and perseverance. When learning to throw on a wheel, it is a virtual impossibility to centre on the first try. Beginners should give themselves time, focussing on the process rather than the destination, keeping their hands linked and using their sponge as a water reservoir.