Sunday, February 14, 2021

A Valentine Quiz - Who Are Art History's Greatest Love Matches?


Frans Hals, Marriage Portrait of Isaac Abrahamsz Massa and Beatrice van der Laen, 1622.  Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam



It's Valentine's Day 2021.  Let's celebrate with a sentimental challenge: can you identify these lovers in art?

If you can guess all 10: you merit the whole pound of chocolates;  9-7: you merit a half a pound of chocolates; 7- 5: you merit a quarter of a pound of chocolates; 4 and under: you merit a Hersey's Kiss and a hug for trying.  Thank you for taking the time to test your knowledge and click through for the correct answers.  Please feel free to share with your fellow art history fans.  

Happy Valentine's Day  - 

With love and hugs,

Beth and the New York Arts Exchange

www.nyarts-exchange.com


1. Answer



2. Answer


3. Answer


4. Answer


5. Answer


6. Answer


7. Answer

 

8. Answer


9. Answer

10. Answer





Tuesday, February 9, 2021

February Zooms: Art Salons Hosted by Greenwich Arts Council and "Queen Esther in Art" Hosted by Learning in Retirement Stamford

 

Paul Signac, Portrait of Félix Fénéon, 1890
aka Opus 217. Against the Enamel of a Background Rhythmic with Beats and Angles, Tones, and Tints
Museum of Modern Art, NYC



In about a month from now, we'll mark the first anniversary of the Covid-19 lockdown and, perhaps, look back on all we accomplished during this challenging "pause."  Did you see all the 2,500 museums available online?  Did you take all the virtual art tours?  I sure haven't.  

Oh - I have visited a few virtual exhibitions, as well as several in person since art museums and galleries opened this past summer.  The in-person experience can't be beat. However, there are several virtual exhibitions that merit praise.

What do YOU think of virtual exhibitions on museum websites?  I would genuinely like to know.

So with that curiosity in mind, and a sincere desire to talk to you about art, as we did when we toured the museum and galleries shows, I have dreamed up a series of 4 meetings, which I call "art salons" that offer an opportunity to talk about art and not sit passively listening to the presenter.

Our series of 4 salons is called: Critiquing the Virtual Museum Experience

It is hosted by Greenwich Arts Council.  You can learn more about the series and register here.

  •   
  • Cost: $15 each
  • Topics:  
  1. Félix Fénéon at MoMA
  2. Jacob Lawrence at the Met
  3. Women artists at the Hudson River Museum
  4. Crowd-sourced photos of life during the Covid-19 Pandemic at the Phillips Collection.

  • Each session features conversations about the curator's theme, content, and website presentation. We will meet in small "rooms" to facilitate lively and spontaneous exchanges. Preparation for these salons is recommended in order to fully engage in the three conversational segments listed above (theme, content, and success/failure as a virtual art experience).  However, it's not necessary.
I hope you will join us for these 1 1/2 hour opportunities to really weigh in on the art scene today.

For more details, please visit the Greenwich Arts Council website.

Antoine Coypel, Esther Swoons Before King Ahasuerus, c. 1704
Musée du Louvre


Art History Lecture on Zoom, Hosted by Learning in Retirement:
"Images of Queen Esther in Art"

Wednesday, February 24 at 10 am.
Browse and register here and here
Fee: $5.00

I'll lecture on the image of Queen Esther in art, just in time to celebrate Purim on February 25-26.
Please join me for this sprint through hundreds of years of artworks about The Book of Esther in the Bible, each created for a different audience: Catholic, Protestant and Jewish.  


I hope you will sign up for one or more of these art history events.
And I hope I see you again soon!

Warm wishes for Valentine's Day,
Beth

Beth S. Gersh-Nesic, Ph.D.
Director and owner
New York Arts Exchange