In 1869, banker and landowner Edwin Bryant Crocker and his wife Margaret Crocker began collecting paintings during a long trip to Europe. In 1885, as a widow, Margaret Crocker donated the family collection, whose value at the time was estimated at more to the city of Sacramento and the California Museum Association.

The museum was originally housed in the Edwin Crocker Mansion, which was built by local architect Seth Babson (1830-1908). He carried out special work to create a gallery in it, which was completed in 1872. This building is considered one of Babson’s finest works. Over the course of its existence, the museum has been rebuilt and added to. In 1989, it was thoroughly modernized. A major renovation of the museum by Gwathmey Siegel & Associates began in 2000 and ended in 2002. The finally renovated museum was opened on October 10, 2010. It included a new 125,000 square foot (11600 m²) building with a new education center with four art studios, faculty space, an expanded library, exhibition gallery, and auditorium, greatly expanding the functionality of the museum.

The post Crocker Art Museum appeared first on The Curator Gallery.

The gallery was opened on April 9, 1839, but the date of its foundation is considered to be May 1824 – then was bought a collection of paintings by Angerstein, numbering 38 works. The gallery’s collection was enriched both by the government and by outside donors, such as George Beaumont.

Initially the gallery was located on Pall Mall Street, but the steady increase in the number of paintings demanded more space, and in 1831 construction began on a building designed by Wilkins. In 1838 the new gallery on the north side of Trafalgar Square was opened to the public.

Features

The National Gallery has a truly enormous number of masterpieces of art, it is impossible to see them all in one visit. So when you’re going to the exhibition, we advise you to identify the paintings (periods, works of specific painters) that you’d like to see first, and make a rough itinerary.

In addition to the collection of masterpieces of painting, the National Gallery is notable for several nice features. For example, in the Espresso Bar or The National Café you can relax and drink coffee, and in the souvenir shops and art stores you can buy souvenirs, books and copies of paintings exhibited in the gallery.
If you like, you can listen to audio lectures or view multimedia presentations about paintings and their authors in the Sainsbury’s Wing or in the already mentioned Espresso Bar.

Developing and adding to collections

The National Gallery’s collection of works is constantly expanding, both through contributions by individuals and charitable foundations. Several works by Dürer, Bermejo, Sera and Altdorfer have recently been added to the collection.

The gallery has many world-famous paintings on display, including Velázquez’ Venus with Mirror, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Titian’s The Holy Family and Rubens’ Landscape with the Castle of the Wall.

If you compare the collection of the National Gallery with the collections of other major galleries, such as the Louvre or the Prado, it does not seem very rich. But the fact that masterpieces of all European schools of painting since mid-13th century till early 20th century are collected in London gallery’s favor. Another reason to be proud is the extensive collection of works by Titian, from the earliest to the latest.

Naturally, the National Gallery has many works by the court painters of English kings – Antonis van Dyck and Hans Holbein. Van Dyck had a considerable influence on the development of painting in the country and, to a greater extent, on English portraiture.

The gallery has an extensive collection of works by Venetian artists such as Mantegna and Bellini. Italian masters are represented by paintings by Filippino Lippi and Antonio Pisanello. For the number of paintings by Spanish masters, the gallery certainly loses out to the Prado Gallery. But it is here that the largest collection of paintings by Velazquez outside of Spain is located.

Fans of Rembrandt will also have something to see – the gallery owns a rather large collection of his works, reflecting the entire life of the great painter. For example, on the canvas “Portrait of Saskia” we see the first wife of the artist, and on a modest work “Woman” – already his second wife Hendrickje Stoffels. Also in the collection is a suicide work by Rembrandt.

The great Rubens is no less widely represented – there are 24 canvases by this Dutch master in the collection. Most of the works in the gallery belong to the late period of Rubens’s work, when he had already achieved fame and began to allow himself to paint for his own pleasure.

In addition to those mentioned, the gallery has many works by German, French, and Flemish masters. The National Gallery successfully continues the work of its founders, giving us the opportunity to see masterpieces of world art live. And its convenient location in the heart of London makes it even more attractive to tourists.

The post National Gallery in London appeared first on The Curator Gallery.

Today, thirty-eight rooms of the gallery present recognized masterpieces of painting and sculpture for public viewing. Each room represents a different chronological era or school, as well as thematic rooms.

Rooms one and thirty-four have been reserved for depictions of Jesus Christ, while another has been reserved for icons from the 18th century depicting the followers of Christ. The second, third, and fourth rooms display paintings by Italian masters of the 13th-16th centuries. The works of Venetian painters of the 15th and 16th centuries are in Halls 5 and 6. Magnificent works of the Venetians are also in rooms seven, eight, nine, and fourteenth. Room ten is used exclusively for the works of contemporary artists. Halls fifteenth through nineteenth are devoted to the frescoes of the fifteenth through sixteenth centuries, on which the masters depicted the saints. The twenty-first room is a collection of 15th-century polyptychs. The twentieth room, as well as the twenty-second and twenty-third rooms, were set aside specifically for Bologna masters. The Masters of the High Renaissance took up Room twenty-four. The works of the natives of central Italy of the 15th-16th centuries are exhibited in rooms twenty-seven and twenty-eight. Michelangelo Merisi was honored in Room twenty-nine. The thirtieth room was a haven for seventeenth-century Lombard paintings. The paintings of Dutch artists are exhibited in rooms thirty-first, thirty-second, and thirty-third. In the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth rooms, Venetian painters again settle, but already in the eighteenth century. The thirty-seventh and concluding thirty-eighth rooms are reserved for painters of the nineteenth century.

Some rooms of the gallery are used for exhibitions of contemporary works by local masters. Visiting the Brera Gallery in Milan, one cannot plan to spend a certain amount of time inside, as time here belongs to the past. The museums of Italy give us priceless masterpieces and it is worth visiting Milan to appreciate it all.

The post Brera Art Gallery in Milan appeared first on The Curator Gallery.

In addition, the museum is very easy to find – it is located in the Palazzo Pilotta, a stone’s throw from the Cathedral Square. The National Gallery has three permanent exhibitions. The first is devoted to the Italian painters of the 15-18 centuries, here you can see the works of Fra Beato Angelico, Leonardo da Vinci, Sebastiano del Piombo, Giulio Romano, Tintoretto, Tiepolo, Canaletto and Carracci. The second exhibition presents the winners of academic competitions of the late 18th century, and in the halls of the third exhibition you will see the canvases of the legendary natives of the city – the artists Correggio and Parmigianino.

The unfinished portrait of a girl by Leonardo da Vinci, Correggio’s frescoes removed from the ruined buildings of Parma, and the works of Parmigianino are of particular value in the Parma Gallery. Correggio’s collection of canvases includes “The Entombment,” “Madonna with St. Jerome” and “Madonna with a Basket,” while famous frescoes include “Coronation of Our Lady,” “Madonna della Scala” and “Annunciation.”

From the history of the National Gallery

The Pilotta Palace itself was built by Duke Ranuccio Farnese back in the early 17th century, but it wasn’t until a century later that the birth of the modern national gallery began in it. It all began with a painting by Correggio, Our Lady of San Girolamo, which in 1734 Charles Bourbon failed to take from Parma to Naples along with the rest of the Dukes of Farnese’s collection. Soon the city established an Academy of Arts and, in parallel, a new collection began to take shape, enriched by gifts and acquisitions.
Philippe Bourbon intended that the taste of the old masters should have a positive influence on the education of young painters studying at the Academy.

In 1816, after the end of the Napoleonic wars, many works of art captured by the French were returned to their homeland, also enriching the collection of the palace. From the rich collection, the Duchess Marie-Louise of Austria commissioned a salon to be set up in the palace with a permanent exhibition designed to highlight the merits of the paintings. The Gallery of Parma was born at that time, and in 1882 it separated from the Academy and became fully independent.

The post National Gallery of Parma appeared first on The Curator Gallery.

History of the Dresden Art Gallery

German Gallery opened in 1560. At that time by order of the Elector Augustus of Saxony in Dresden was created a cabinet of Fine Arts (Kunstkammer), which also exhibited the paintings of Italian and Flemish masters of painting. The collection was systematically expanded in the middle of the 18th century under Elector Augustus II the Strong and his son Augustus III.

The most significant contribution to the history of the gallery was made by renowned art expert Francesco Algarotti, who in 1740 as a confidant of the rulers of Saxony, promoted the purchase of 100 works of art. After that, the gallery gradually became known throughout the world.

At the beginning of the 19th century the Dresden Gallery was expanded and a new building was completed which is today an integrated part of the famous Zwinger complex.

During World War II the gallery was badly damaged, some of the buildings were destroyed, but most of the exhibits were removed in time. After the war the salvaged pictures were sent to the Soviet Union for restoration and 10 years later after a large exhibition in Moscow they returned to the walls of the Dresden Gallery.

Dresden Art Gallery collection

The Dresden Art Gallery offers a large number of artworks from such notable artists as Titian, Van Dyck, Rubens and Giorgione. The famous “Sistine Madonna” in the Dresden gallery is considered the most valuable exhibit today, occupying a place of honor in the hall. The picture was painted by the inimitable Raphael.

Also many people purposefully come to the museum to admire the creation of Giorgione’s “Sleeping Venus”.

Of the examples of painting of the 18th century, the works of Giovanni Canale are highly esteemed. His canvases depict landscapes and views of Dresden and its surroundings. The hallmarks of Canale’s paintings are identity and photographic precision. He was able to convey all the beauty that fills this beautiful city like no other.

A separate part of the gallery’s exposition is devoted to the Flemish Baroque period. The most famous creators of this style are Rubens, Rembrandt, Dürer, and Holbein. Visitors can’t miss the collection of pastels, especially the painting “Chocolatier” by Jean-Etienne Lyotard.

The Dresden Art Gallery not only displays works by German artists, but also collections by other famous painters. For example, the gallery has a work called “The Jewish Cemetery” by Dutchman Jacob van Reisdal. This work, with some sarcasm and allegory, reflects the human essence and man’s stay on earth.
Compared to other galleries around the country, the Old Masters Gallery has the largest number of works by this artist.

True connoisseurs of the talent of the great Rembrandt can contemplate in the Dresden Art Gallery at once 15 of his works.

Visitors have a chance to admire works such as “Lady in Black in Front of the Red Portiere” and “The Man in Black in Front of the Column. The portraits of the children of Charles I, who was King of England at the time the paintings were painted, cannot be overlooked.

The Old Masters Gallery presents works from the French, English and Spanish schools of the 17th and 18th centuries. It should be noted that the Dresden Art Gallery tries to preserve the spirit and traditions that were present at its creation. Nothing in the museum walls changes: neither the order in which the paintings are hung, nor the frames that are now old-fashioned. It is probably due to these traditions that the Old Masters Gallery is one of the most visited in comparison to other museums with works from the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries.

As a modern branch of the Dresden Picture Gallery, the Gallery of the New Masters operates with a collection of paintings by Carl Gustav Carus, Johan Christian Dahl and Ludwig Richter.

In addition to these, the new masters include French and German impressionists: Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Max Liebermann and Max Slefogt.

A place in the collection also found artists of the Most association (art group): Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Karl Schmidt-Rotluf and representatives of the Dresden Secession – Bernhard Kretschmar and Karl Lose.

Masterpieces of the Dresden Art Gallery

Although there are a huge number of world masterpieces within the walls of the gallery, you can still highlight the most famous paintings. The treasures of the Dresden gallery are:

• Raphael’s “Sistine Madonna”. This particular work is considered one of the most admirable paintings of the artist. The canvas depicts the Madonna holding the little Jesus in her arms. The Madonna and her baby are in heaven, and it seems as if she is about to step towards her observers. Her gaze is directed directly at you, and it is impossible to pass by this picture. Also painted on the canvas are Pope Sixtus II and St. Barbara.
• Lyotard’s “Chocolatier.” Although painted in 1745, this painting combines both antique and 19th century motifs. The canvas depicts a young girl holding a tray with cups of hot chocolate and a glass of water. Despite the many critics who rely on the fact that this is not a portrait, but a staged scene, the picture deeply fell into the soul of many connoisseurs of art.
• “The Sleeping Venus” by Giorgione. This world-famous painting depicts the goddess of love in a relaxed pose and resting in the shadow of a rock. In the foreground, the artist captured with minimal detail the drapery, while in the distance he depicted a landscape with a small village and majestic mountains. Although the great Giorgione was unable to complete the painting on his own, it was completed by the master’s pupil, the no less famous Titian. This artist also used the described landscape in his works.
• “Holy Night” by Correggio. This canvas depicts one of the most recognizable scenes from the Bible: the worship of a shepherd to the newly born Jesus. What makes this work valuable and famous is the authenticity of the portrayal of the night scene, which gives a sense of the space associated with light. Correggio has successfully shown the process of the shepherd’s animated conversation with the maid, as well as the moment where Mary experiences her first, most joyful motherly feelings.
• Titian’s “Dinarius of Caesar.” As noted, Titian was a disciple of Giorgione, and took his best skills from his mentor. This canvas deals with a biblical story in which a Pharisee tried to deceive Jesus. The purpose of the painting is not to depict the entire plot, but only to show the faces of the characters with their personal emotions and gestures, which is why the figures are depicted all over the canvas. The author is unsurpassed and in his own manner shows the true faces of the characters, their understanding of good and evil, honesty and falsity. Although the canvas is small, it always draws the eye and makes you think.

The Dresden Art Gallery holds a place of honor among the best museum complexes in the world. The National Picture Gallery, as its guides call it, brought together the works of famous and talented artists of the XIV-XVIII centuries.

It is not necessary to have an in-depth knowledge of the history of painting in advance: visitors in any case will be impressed by this gallery for a lifetime.

The post Dresden Art Gallery appeared first on The Curator Gallery.

National Gallery of Slovenia was founded in 1918 and currently has the largest collection of paintings in the country. The gallery includes old paintings, written by Slovenian and European artists over the past 400 years – ranging from paintings of the sixteenth century to the works of his contemporaries.

The gallery is divided into several large halls, each dedicated to a different style of painting – neoclassicism, realism, impressionism and others. In addition to paintings, the gallery offers a small collection of sculptures and statues from the Renaissance.

Today the National Gallery of Slovenia is the largest cultural attraction in Ljubljana. This art museum attracts tens of thousands of tourists each year, making it a true Mecca for all fans of European art.

The post National Gallery of Slovenia appeared first on The Curator Gallery.

A glimpse into history

Back in 1790, the King of Poland, whose name was Stanislaus Augustus, had the idea of creating a magnificent Royal Collection of Paintings. He ordered art dealers to form it. For five years, they diligently selected paintings for the gallery. However, the year 1795 came and with it the partition of Poland. As a result, the country ceased to be an independent state, and as a result, the king abdicated the throne.
As a result, art dealers, who by that time had already amassed a royal collection, were left without a customer. They were unable to find a buyer for the entire collection at once, and they eventually decided to make it for public viewing. At that time, the National Gallery of London was not a thing of the past, and the British Museum, as believed the art dealers, was too “aristocratic.
In 1807, Noel Desenfans, who had been behind the creation of the Royal Collection of Paintings, died. After that Francis Bourgeois decided to transfer all the collected paintings to the College of Dulchwich, but with one condition: that the paintings were open to the public. So 1811 is considered the founding of the Dulwich Picture Gallery. It was then that it became the first art gallery in London open to the public.

The Dulwich Picture Gallery’s extensive collection

The Dulwich Picture Gallery exhibits works by famous painters, masters from Western Europe. The splendid collection of British painters is astonishing. Most of the gallery is made up of stunning 17th- and 19th-century canvases, but you can also see paintings from other eras. There are works by great artists such as Rembrandt, Paul Ruben, Antoine Watteau and even Raphael.

The post Dulwich Picture Gallery appeared first on The Curator Gallery.

The exhibition

The gallery collection includes more than 400 paintings and sculptures from the early 20th century to the present day. All trends in art of that time are represented. The gallery should be visited if only for the masterpieces of Klee, Kirchner, Emile Nolde and August Macke.

The Surrealists, Fauvists and Cubists are also represented in the museum – this collection is one of the ten largest in the world. And among the most significant are 14 works by Picasso.
The museum exhibition is as controversial and controversial as modern art, so it is better to come prepared, so the installations and the gallery’s rooms do not cause confusion.

Architecture

The Gallery of Contemporary Art was designed and built under the direction of architect Oswald Matthias in 1997. The museum building is a four-storey cube with a facade clad in light sandstone and completed with red granite panels on the ground floor. The gallery is connected to the main building of the Kunsthalle by an underground passage.

The Gallery of Modern Art moved out of the Kunsthalle when the collection of 20th century works of art grew and the need for a separate building became urgent.

The post Gallery of Contemporary Art in Hamburg appeared first on The Curator Gallery.

There are two buildings at the gallery’s disposal. One of them was clearly created by architects of the past centuries: white brick, niches, taken at first sight for windows, columns at the entrance, a sloping roof. The second picture house is also light, but the resemblance to its older brother ends there. This building looks much more modern – it looks like a huge brick cube, and only at the entrance there is a glass showcase with several floors.

Looking at these buildings, it’s hard to believe it all started with a collection of 125 paintings, but it is with this number of exhibits and opened its wooden doors gallery in 1864. Two years later, however, the institution received a grant, which was spent on the purchase of works of art. The sum was probably substantial, because already in 1891 the collection was already impressive and threatened to stop being housed in the building allocated to it. An outbuilding had to be built.

Patrons also sought to help the gallery in every way possible. Thus, in the early 20th century, about 250 watercolors by various local artists were donated to the institution. The only stipulation of the donors was that the paintings could be exhibited only in January. And this requirement was far from a silly whim, because the sun’s rays are destructive to watercolors. So even now, so many years later, with so much modern technology, these paintings are only exhibited in the first month of the year. Keep this in mind when planning a visit to the gallery.

The famous Bernard Shaw also contributed to the museum, bequeathing 14 works from his collection to the institution. The playwright knew a lot about painting, and among his gifts are paintings by Pablo Picasso and Jack Yates.

Now anyone can easily get into the gallery, as admission is free for locals and visitors to Dublin.

Beautiful works by masters of previous centuries leave no one indifferent. There are biblical scenes and paintings based on ancient myths. Myths and legends, pictures depicting the everyday life of people of different estates. And how nice landscapes, marine motifs, still lifes. Faces, places, objects look from the paintings of Caravaggio, Reni, Monet, Velazquez and many others, so don’t deny yourself the pleasure of enjoying the masterpieces of bygone eras.

The post National Gallery of Ireland appeared first on The Curator Gallery.