When I spent the day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I came upon this scene and was so surprised. I don't think I have ever seen anyone copying a painting in this museum before. I do know that it is a practice for may students to be allowed to copy paintings, and I have seen it in other museums, but not here. I noticed that the painter was wearing ear buds while painting. If he had not been, I would have asked if he was a student, and asked what school he was from. But I didn't. When I was shooting, I tried several different views. When editing, I decided that seeing the white cloth on the varnished floor was the most dramatic image. But I have included a closer shot so you can see how the artist is doing. Be sure and click on the pictures to see more detail.
3 comments:
This is amazing. I've seen people with sketchbooks quietly sitting on benches and copying paintings, but this looks like a full-blown setup, complete with easel. I wonder, is he an artist of a certain caliber the museum recognizes and wants to encourage? That would make sense - aiding the development of a younger person with great potential would seem like a mandate of any museum. His tools are spread out so people have to walk around him and I can't imagine a museum tolerating that unless he were given special permission. The picture is striking to me because I've never seen anything like this before. Thanks for capturing/sharing.
Thanks so much for confirming my sense that this was quite unusual to see. I wish I had been able to talk to the artist, but the ear buds kind of said to me that he didn't want to be disturbed, and so I respected that.
I have never seen an artist set up to pint in a museum. He is very talented - incredible detail in the faces. I'm glad you included both photos. bsk
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