The Cleveland Museum of Art

Today I visited one of my home town's greatest treasures, the Cleveland Museum of Art.  I was accompanied by Jane, my friend and former teaching colleague, and her cousin. 

The museum is located in the University Circle district of Cleveland.  University Circle has one of the highest concentrations of cultural institutions anywhere in the world.  Within walking distance of the art museum are the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, the Western Reserve Historical Society, the Crawford Aviation-Auto Museum, the Cleveland Institute of Music, Severance Hall (the home of the renowned Cleveland Orchestra), the Children's Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and Case-Western Reserve University.

Our art museum is regarded one of the finest in the country. Although not as large as some (it contains 43,000 pieces of art), the quality of its collection is considered outstanding.  It is a comprehensive museum with pieces spanning the entire history of art, from ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt to the 21st century.  The museum was begun with an endowment donated by wealthy Cleveland industrialists, and was built on land donated by Jephtha Wade, the founder of Western Union Telegraph.  In 1916 the neoclassical building was opened "for the benefit of all people, forever."


(image from the web)

The museum was expanded throughout the 20th century to make room for the growing collection.  In 2005 the most ambitious renovation and expansion was begun.  It was the largest cultural project in the history of Ohio.  Sections of the museum were reopened as they were completed, and the last galleries were opened to the public in January of 2014.  A large glass-covered atrium connects the original 1916 building with the newer galleries.

 

 



The museum has an endowment of $600,000, and is the wealthiest museum in the country.  Admission to the museum is free.

 

Here are some pictures that I took to give you a glimpse of our magnificent museum and a few of its treasures...

 

 

 In the Egyptian gallery

 

 

The Oriental collection is one of the largest outside of Asia.

 

 

 

 

The former garden court was converted into additional gallery space.

 

 

 

 

This series of 18th century paintings of the Four Muses and Apollo by the French artist Charles Meynier had been in storage because previously there had not been enough room to display them together.

 

 

 

 

This illuminated prayer book from the 15th century belonged to Queen Isabella of Spain.

 

 

 

 

One of our two Rembrandts

 

 

 

 

This painting of a court jester is by the Spanish master, Diego Velásquez.

 

 

 

 

The museum's two paintings by El Greco

 

 

 

 

This painting by the English painter Turner, "The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons" is considered one of the museum's gems.

 

 

 

 

This new glass-enclosed space contains 19th century European sculpture, including several pieces by Rodin.  In the background you can see the original museum building.

 

 

 

 

The Impressionist Gallery includes one of Monet's "Water Lilies".

 

 

 

 

The paintings and sculptures are supplemented with a large collection of

decorative arts.

 

 

 

If you visit Cleveland, the museum of art should be on your list of places to see!!