NATALIE SENIOR GREENBERG
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART (OR THE MET) IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST ART MUSEUMS. ITS COLLECTION SPANS 6,000 YEARS AND THE ENTIRE GLOBE. VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD COME TO SEE ITS TREASURES. WHERE ELSE CAN YOU SEE THE INSIDE OF AN EGYPTIAN TOMB, A FULL SET OF JAPANESE ARMOR AND A ROOM OF RENAISSANCE PAINTINGS ALL IN ONE DAY?
As New Yorkers we are fortunate to call the Met our own, and New York City residents can “pay what they wish” to enter the museum, instead of the hefty $25 fee for tourists. I love to take advantage of this policy, and whenever I am on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, I pop into the Met for an hour to enjoy.
Planning a visit to the Met can be overwhelming, and I know that the thought of spending hours trudging around the museum may sound boring and tiresome. However, if you plan correctly, your visit will be very enjoyable.
The Met has 16 departments or collection areas, and each department can and should be treated as its own mini-museum. I recommend choosing only one or two areas per visit. A newcomer’s mistake (or the mistake of many tourists) is trying to cram in as much as they can in one day. Do not do this! It will leave you feeling tired, bored and overwhelmed; you will not want to return anytime soon. As a New Yorker, you can pay a small amount (even $1.00!) and return as often as you wish. Spending just an hour or two in one or two areas will give you a better understanding and appreciation of the area you are visiting and will leave you wanting more! Following are some recommendations (some, but not all of my favorites) for a great Met Museum visit.
EGYPTIAN ART
While wandering through the galleries of the Egyptian Art Wing of the museum, you will encounter statues of pharaohs, goddesses, animals and mummies. You will also see jewelry and tomb paintings. The highlight of the Egyptian collection is the Temple of Dendur, located in gallery 131. It is the only complete Egyptian Temple in the Western Hemisphere. A beautiful soaring gallery was built specifically to accommodate the temple. It is one of the most popular rooms in the museum and a must see.
GREEK AND ROMAN ART
The Greek and Roman Sculpture Court, located in gallery 162, is an exquisite two-story hall filled with objects from the Roman and Greek civilizations and the entire Mediterranean area. Many of the statues on display were intended to fill ancient gardens to create delight and comfort. There is a sense of calm in this space and you can sit on a bench and think about what it might have been like to be a wealthy Roman in ancient times. Look for the statue of the Three Graces, who represent beauty, charm and abundance. Be sure to check out the mezzanine above the sculpture court (gallery 170) to see an ancient Etruscan chariot.
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
The Met’s collection of European paintings dates from the days of the early Renaissance to the present time. While I love to wander through the Renaissance portion, my favorite areas are the galleries of 19th and early 20th century art. Here you will find some of the Met’s greatest works by Impressionist master Claude Monet. The Impressionists were most interested in portraying the effects of light and air as well as an interest in the urbanization of Paris in the late 19th century. Look for the light effects as well as city paintings showing how Parisians liked to spend their leisure time.
Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings are displayed in galleries 822 and 825. His style changed rapidly during his short career, and you can see the transformation clearly. His early paintings are quite gloomy, but his later works are lighter and brighter with the thick brushstrokes that he became famous for. One of my favorites is Wheat Fields with Cypresses, which I consider to be the daytime version of The Starry Night (which is located at MoMA).
Check out the rooms nearby for paintings by Manet, Degas, Cezanne, Pissarro, Picasso and more; all masters of late 19th and early 20th century painting.
Here is a listing of all the departments at the Met Museum. My suggestions should get you off to a good start, but feel free to check out some of the other areas. Remember to keep your visit to less than two hours, and try to stick to only two areas to explore. Go back and visit often! There is always something new to see, as well as special exhibits. Have a wonderful time!
Metropolitan Museum of Art Departments
African Art
American Art
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Arms and Armor
Asian Art
Costume Institute
Drawings and Prints
Egyptian Art
European Paintings
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Greek and Roman Art
Islamic art
Medieval Art
Modern and Contemporary Art
Oceanic Art
Photography
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located at 1000 Fifth Avenue (entrance at 84th Street) New York City. Bring proof of residency (like your driver’s license), so you can pay what you wish.
Natalie Senior Greenberg is a Brooklyn College Art History professor, and the founder, curator and owner of an online art gallery.
