I'm back from a fun filled weekend spent in New York with the highlight being a visit to my favorite museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Admittedly, I'm not there for the art. I adore the period rooms and have seen them literally hundereds of times (but can never get enough).
My favorite has always been the moody Venetian bedroom, seen in the top 2 photos.
The beauty is that there is something for everyone!
The details of these rooms are just amazing, no matter which period.
The lighting is spectacular; Different details are highlighted, moods created and scenes come to life in dappled sunlight.
You can get up close and personal with items from history, who can ask for more?
Room after room -it's an entire day spent admiring the architecture and design of the past.
After being indoors all day a quick trip through Central Park, seen below, and lunch in my favorite nearby restaurant, EAT cafe, completes the adventure!
The perfect Saturday in the city in my book!
oh thanks for sharing.I really need to visit this museum when I go to NY this summer..seems to have alot of inpiration :)) have a lovely day /Marie
ReplyDeleteTruly a magnificent museum! I go for the art and the rooms and everything in it. Yes the Venetian bedroom is one of my favourites also!
ReplyDeleteYou rang my bell. Years ago I spent a whole day in the Period
ReplyDeletefurniture part of that Museum. I couldn't get enough. Planing a trip to NYC, in May we are trying to get a room at the Algonquin Hotel, full of history, and great writers of our century. What's on the Menu of the EATs cafe?? Can't wait to go.
Stuck in Maine, yvonne
Any tips??
Petite - EAT is sort of the perfect deli with the best sandwiches on homemade bread. I've been going since my first trip to NY years ago. I love the chicken salad on pumpernickel. Also be sure to try the AMAZING chocolate chip cookies!!
ReplyDeleteI love those rooms as well. Thanks for the beautiful photos. Have you been to the Neue Gallerie? I'd like to visit there my next trip. Of course my favorite is the Frick.
ReplyDeleteL.P.G., I stayed at the Algonquin my last trip to NYC. The room itself was fine but the best part was hanging out in the "Round Table" room.
Topaz -i have yet to see the neue Gallerie! LOVE the frick as well although mostly for the building and not the art as much.
ReplyDeleteI'll be going to the Met in May, and can hardly wait! Since I'm in the process of painting a Pompeian room, I'm looking forward to seeing their recently restored Pompeian frescoes.
ReplyDeleteMark, I had no idea, I'm sorry to have missed them!
ReplyDeleteIt truly sounds like a perfect day… the last time I was in NY, I spent a day at the Frick museum and it was amazing!
ReplyDeleteLucky you! The period rooms are my favorite as well but my pictures never turn out as good as yours, probably because my camera is far too flash reliant. My second favorite is the arms and armory which is pretty different but also beautiful. It's slightly alarming that they have a full set of armor for a 5 year old boy but I guess those were different times. Hope all is well! -Amber
ReplyDeletep.s. I miss your china, any chance for a tablescape post soon : )
Thanks Amber, I'll try to do one soon!!
ReplyDeleteRecognised the Venetian room immediately.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of my all time favorites. Such atmosphere!
Even the gloom appeals. Along with the dust along
the carved folds of fabric, etc!
Toby, it's all part of the look for me!
ReplyDeleteThat is a perfect day in my book too!! You live the life one dreams about.
ReplyDeletexs
Sandra, I just know there is a joke about a nightmare there somewhere!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful. The reality and the mood they produced are heavenly...I can see why it's your favorite.
ReplyDeletexo J~
Adore the period rooms as well. Did you know that Yale University Press published a book about them several years ago? That way you can have a vicarious fix in between visits!
ReplyDeleteI adore the Met, of course. I wander for hours, sometimes a whole day, just seeing where my eye lands. But, I always end up in the period rooms. Of course.
ReplyDeleteI'm off to Boston to see their new American Period rooms installation in just a few days. Can't wait.
I am glad you saw the Venetian bedroom; it is often missed because of the location. In the French period rooms, all the special lighting specified by Henri Samuel -- the focusing lens projectors -- were usually dark in the 80s and 90s because of the difficult to replace lamps; hopefully that situation has been rectified because I love those rooms so much. No comments on the American rooms? And there is an interesting Arabic room too. On another trip, the American rooms at the Brooklyn Museum are interesting, too.
ReplyDeleteDED - they're the highlight of the museum (and blissfully crowd-free).
ReplyDeleteDevoted - we searched for the venetian bedroom for about an hour - seriously -i wanted to show my friend! It's been my favorite room since I first saw it in high school.
We didn't really get to the American rooms -I prefer the continental ones (as they're a bit different from what I generally see in the mid atlantic region) and we only had limited time.
My husband hates going to museums with me because I stop at each exhibit to STUDY the patinas!
ReplyDeleteWould actually living in rooms like these might be a bit off putting... Nah.
ReplyDeleteI trying imagine how it would feel to sleep in such a moody bedroom.
ReplyDeleteI too enjoy looking at period rooms, and wish I could go back in time.
I love Central Park, and remember the first time I saw Belvedere Castle. I thought I was seeing things. I didn't know anything about the park , other than what I saw in movies. Belvedere was the first name I considered for our new house.
What kind of camera do you use? I am looking for a new one ands would love to know. The photos are wonderful! And thank you for including my favorite room at the Met, the sage green oval room in photo #4. Great blog overall.
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