With all intentions of hitting up the Phillips Collection in Dupont today to see the largest Impressionist Exhibit outside of Europe, we found it closed. But mom and I, equally infatuated with gorgeous art, veered instead to the National Art Gallery on Madison Ave with Gabriel in tow. And we were impressed! Even if we really only did justice of the top floor (of which there are three).
The gallery itself is beautifully constructed--skylit conservatories with adjoining galleries, a central rotunda held up by Grecian black pillars enclosing a fountain topped in a black cupid-like sculpture and surrounded by fragrant flowering azaleas. Its galleries held such wonders as some of the most well-known (and lesser known) pieces of Rembrandt, Degas, Monet, Manet, Raphael, da Vinci... It was inspiring just being in the presence of such renown artists.
After finding the "Archangel Gabriel" after whom Gabriel was named, Gabriel ran around flapping a map of the Gallery with his arms, the squeals of glee (and exhaustion) echoing in the cavernous galleries. Unfortunately, Gabriel hit his limit just as we were starting "The Impressionists" (my personal favorite) and we had to take a long detour and revisit once he fell asleep.
I also struck up a conversation with a local artist there doing a replica of a famous painting and we talked technique, about self-portraits and writing. He, along with the entire gallery of works, definitely inspired me to pull out the canvas and paints again. Although, I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for the next installment. They are slow starting, slow finishing and still "practice."
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