When people ask me about what’s the best thing to do in North Carolina’s Capitol City, one place that I usually recommend is the North Carolina Museum of Art. The art museum has a very wide collection of artwork from around the world, assembled over time thanks to generous donations from the state of North Carolina and patrons. The North Carolina Museum of Art was the first collection ever to be funded by a state’s general assembly, when the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $1 million in 1947 to begin the collection. The collection has created a world-class art museum in North Carolina’s Capitol City. It’s hard to believe just how many impactful pieces are found here as a part of the permanent collection.
Renaissance painter Raphael has a painting in the North Carolina Museum of Art, with ‘A Miracle of Saint Jerome.’ This painting was originally commissioned for Domenico Gavari’s burial chamber. This piece was one of Raphael’s first pieces that was part of a larger collection. Sandro Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus‘ is one of my all-time favorite pieces of artwork, and I was fortunate enough to see the original in Florence, Italy. This piece, ‘The Nativity and the Procession of the Magi,’ was originally displayed in a private, domestic chamber, high on the wall, to represent a view towards heaven.
The North Carolina Museum of Art is divided into multiple sections for its permanent collection. The permanent collection is divided by the place of origin and the period. Many very famous artists have at least one work displayed in the museum, so a visitor could see art from Raphael, Botticelli, Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe, Picasso, Rodin, and many others.
‘Cebolla Church’ by Georgia O’Keeffe featured the Church of Santo Niño in Cebolla, New Mexico, blending the church’s adobe with the desert landscape. I find that artwork inspires future travel opportunities. Although I have not been to this church, I also get a kick out of seeing paintings of destinations that I have been to in real life.As for inspiring travel, ‘Landscape in Ecuador’ by Louis Remy Mignot inspires one to go to South America. It is amazing that Mignot was able to recreate these landscapes from travel sketches he made during a 1857 trip to the area. As it comes to landscape paintings, going from the jungle to a town to the foothills to Capac Urcu/El Altar in the distance, this painting captures the sheer beauty of the area.As for the inspiration here, Pablo Picasso painted ‘Femme assise, fond rouge et jaune’ (Seated Woman, Red and Yellow Background) as his romantic relationship with his model and subject, Françoise Gilot, was starting to sour. Picasso was an incredibly talented artist, as I saw many of his early works in the Picasso Museum in Barcelona. This work, from his Cubist style, showed his experimentation with art.
One of the best parts of the North Carolina Art Museum is that it’s free for anyone to attend. When I lived in Raleigh, I would occasionally come to the art museum just to take advantage of the culture available there. I did not truly appreciate everything that was an offer. In my travels around the world, I would argue that the North Carolina Art Museum has a collection that ranks solidly with most other art museums. Thankfully, the North Carolina General Assembly’s initial funding has laid the foundation for this outstanding collection in North Carolina’s capital city.
‘The Seine at Giverny, Morning Mists’ by Claude Monet shows his dedication to capturing the subject, with him consistently waking up at 3:30 AM to capture the early morning light through the fog. Impressionism is one of my favorite art styles, so I was excited to remember that several Monets are found in the Museum.Flemish artist Frans Snyders ‘Market Scene on a Quay’ is actually a lie, as fish and meat were sold at separate markets in the 17th century. This painting also features two ships in the background, one with a Dutch Flag and one with a Spanish Flag, as peace between the two nations was sought at the time. I was as intrigued as Dutch nobles would have been intrigued by the lifelike displays of meat and fish, as the Dutch style promoted realism in painting.This painting was the Study for ‘The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown’ by artist and former Revolutionary War officer John Trumbull. A study painting gives artists the opportunity to practice and make changes while working on a larger painting commissioned in another location. The final painting today is found in the United States Capitol Building Rotunda.
The North Carolina Art Museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays, except on some holidays. Current times are listed on the website, along with any special events. On my most recent trip to the museum, I visited the special exhibit titled ‘The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt.’ When I lived in Raleigh, I took advantage of attending some festivals and shows, for which there is usually a modest fee unless you are a museum member. The North Carolina Museum of Art remains my top suggested destination for anyone visiting the City of Oaks.
Andrew Newell Wyeth’s ‘Winter 1946’ was painted immediately following the death of his father, illustrator N.C. Wyeth. The painting was very personal and seems to show loneliness and coldness.The North Carolina Museum of Art has a substantial collection of Auguste Rodin’s sculptures. Sometimes it is just amazing to see the collection amassed in Raleigh. The North Carolina Museum of Art is a true treasure for all North Carolinians.
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