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.
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.
ReplyDeleteThanks 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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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