Imagine stepping into a world where art from across the globe converges a world that embodies centuries of creativity. That is the Metropolitan Museum Of Art.
Founded in 1870, the Metropolitan Museum Of Art’s story began with a vision to bring art and art education to the American people. It is one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive art museums. Its founders included businessmen and financiers, leading artists and thinkers. Their goal? To open a museum to bring art and art education to the American public.
Originally located at 681 Fifth Avenue, the Metropolitan Museum Of Art opened its doors on February 20 1872. The collection quickly outgrew its space. The museum then moved to its current location in Central Park in 1880. Today, the Met’s main building is one of the world’s largest art galleries, spanning approximately 2 million square feet.
The Metropolitan Museum Of Art’s collection is vast. It includes more than two million works of art. These pieces span classical antiquity, ancient Egypt, European paintings and sculptures, and American and modern art. The museum also boasts impressive collections of African, Asian, Oceanic, Byzantine, and Islamic artwork.
Did you know that the Met maintains encyclopedic collections of musical instruments, costumes, and antique weapons and armor? These items come from around the world. Several notable interiors are installed in its galleries too. They range from 1st-century Rome through modern American design.
The Met’s permanent collection is divided into seventeen curatorial departments. Each department has a specialized staff of curators and scholars. There are also six dedicated conservation departments.
In 1982, the arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas opened to the public. They were housed in the Michael C Rockefeller Wing. This wing is named after Nelson Rockefeller’s son. He died while collecting works in New Guinea. Today, the Met’s collection contains more than 11000 pieces from these regions.
The Asian art department holds over 35000 pieces. It is arguably the most comprehensive collection in the US. A whole wing of the museum is dedicated to Asian art, spanning 4000 years.
More than 26000 separate pieces of Egyptian art make up the Met’s Egyptian collection. Almost all of them are on display in the museum’s massive wing of 40 Egyptian galleries. The popular centerpiece is the Temple of Dendur.
The Met’s collection of European paintings numbers more than 2500 works of art from the thirteenth through the early twentieth century. These paintings are housed in various galleries. The Robert Lehman Collection is particularly strong in early Renaissance material.
The European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection holds over 50000 separate pieces from the 15th through the early 20th centuries. Visitors can enter dozens of completely furnished period rooms.
The Met’s collection of Greek and Roman art contains more than 17000 objects. The museum’s first accessioned object was a Roman sarcophagus, which is still on display.
One of the world’s largest collections of works of art from the Islamic world is owned by the Metropolitan Museum Of Art. The collection includes artifacts and works of art of cultural and secular origin.
The Department of Arms and Armor is one of the museum’s most popular collections. It includes weapons and armor from dynastic Egypt, ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the ancient Near East.
The Costume Institute’s collection contains more than 35000 costumes and accessories. The Costume Institute is known for hosting the annual Met Gala.
The Thomas J Watson Library is the central library of the Metropolitan Museum Of Art. Its collection contains approximately 900000 volumes.
The Metropolitan Museum Of Art has always deaccessioned works to improve the collection by using the proceeds to purchase better or more appropriate works.
So, as you explore the Metropolitan Museum Of Art, remember that you are walking through a living testament to human creativity. Each piece tells a story. Each gallery offers a new perspective. This museum is not just a collection of art. It is a journey through time and culture.