The Dying Gaul

The first time I saw the sculpture of the Dying Gaul {Hellenistic period, c. 230–c. 220 BC; marble} was in February 2014 in the Pantheon shaped rotunda of the National Gallery of Art. The Italian government organized an artistic exchange program in 2013 marking the “Year of Italian Culture”, where centuries old pieces that had never left Italy were brought to the United States for viewing.

But, while in Rome at the Musei Capitolini you walk up steps into a gallery where the back of this sculpture is your first view. Next you begin to walk around the piece taking in items that are rarely seen from books; beside the warrior there is a trumpet, a sword, and a pentagram near one of his feet. To have time to view the sculpture without severe crowds was an honor, and seeing small details in the physical appearance of the Gaul, such as veins in his arms or the crease around the torso is absolutely exquisite.

Musei Capitonlini
Piazza del Campidoglio, 1, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

National Gallery of Art
Washington, DC 20565

Washington Post Article, December 12, 2013

The Georgetowner
1050 30th St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
January 26, 2014

Enjoy, Kathleen

Kathleen7 Comments

Warm Holiday Wishes

From the Freer/Sackler museum in Washington DC, artist Subodh Gupta has taken basic household objects, such as brass vessels and stainless steel found in India and has comprised these items into an incredible installation called Terminal. The towers range from one to fifteen feet in height, and resemble architectural features found in mosques, temples and/or churches. The intricate thread woven throughout the structure is beautifully delicate.

From all of us at Stylish Heath have a wonderful holiday season and a most joyous New year!
K

Kathleen2 Comments

Louvre Abu Dhabi

The illustrious collection of the Louvre Abu Dhabi has a most comprehensive scope of art that ranges from prehistoric to contemporary. The museum has artifacts from Egypt and Mesopotamia along with paintings from Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, and Claude Monet. Installations from Ai Weiwei are also darted throughout the galleries.

The Egyptian god Horus A sculpture of Osiris from the book Birth of a Museum

When sunlight filters through the roof of the Louvre Abu Dhabi it creates a moving “rain of light” beneath the dome, reminiscent of the overlapping dessert palm trees.

Horses of the Sun by French sculptor Gilles Guerin

Construction took eight years and the museum spans over 260,000 square feet. The network of galleries are designed chronologically and are light filled. Half of the artworks that are part of the permanent collection are on loan from the Agence France-Musèums, which includes the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Versailles and Musée de l’Orangerie, and the museum will display four temporary exhibits each year.

Enjoy,
K

Kathleen4 Comments