Tag Archives: MFA Boston

John Wilson, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1985. Black and white pastel on cream Japanese paper. Richard Florsheim Art Fund and Anonymous Gift. © John Wilson/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY.

The Wilson / Cortor exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston opens today. The exhibit celebrates the legacies of two contemporary American artists—John Wilson (a Roxbury, MA native) and Eldzier Cortor—each dedicated to an exploration of the African American experience. The exhibit includes approximately 50 works, many shown for the first time. The exhibition highlights the MFA’s significant holdings of prints and drawings by each artist.

Link here for more information about the exhibit.

Pennsylvania Railroad World War II Memorial

I jokingly refer to January, February and March as my “museum season” because it is the time of year I am most likely to spend a few hours strolling through one of Boston’s museums to pass an afternoon.  While some may prefer movies, I like to get out and stretch my legs by waking through some of the permanent exhibits at museums like the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

Boston’s winter has been so mild this year that it has encroached on “museum season” – not that I’m complaining. But with spring and truly milder weather still a couple months away I wanted to suggest planning a weekend visit to an area museum either as something to do on your own or with friends.

Tire Jumping In Front of My Window
By Allan Rohan Crite

It is a great way to pass time and for larger museums like the MFA Boston and the Harvard Art Museums, which have so many permanent collections, there is certain to be one that will pique your interest.  For example, the image above caught my eye, because I recognized it immediately as a scene from Boston.  This painting which is part of the MFA’s Art of the America’s collection was finished in 1947 by a local artist who lived above that store on the corner of Dilworth and Northhampton Street for nearly 50 years.

For those of you who may not want to spend several hours roaming a museum or might be looking for something that won’t cost much, remember that admission is free every Thursday from 5 – 9 PM at Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art.

Goya Portrait: Antonia Zarate y Aguirre

Goya Order and Disorder

on view through January 19, 2015

The Goya exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston is a large and impressive collection that includes: portraiture, sport and allegory themed paintings, sketchings, print and tapestries.  The exhibit starts very light and almost joyful showcasing some of Goya’s most prominent portraits of Spanish nobility. The portrait above of Antonia Zarate y Aguirre dates back to approximately 1805 and was one of my favorites in the exhibit.

However, as  you walk through the eight room exhibit the family portraits give way to some darker subject matter. I’ve highlighted some of my favorites; the violence of sport (Bulls of Bordeaux), madness (Yard with Madmen), war (Attack on a Military Camp) and finally death (Garroted Man).  The exhibit officially concludes with  The Giant (also known as The Colossus) a smaller piece depicting a pensive giant looking over his shoulder.

Never too heavy handed, the exhibit really drew me in and gave me a greater
appreciation for Goya’s talent, the mediums he used and the external
influences that inevitably shaped his subject matter.

With colder weather on its way, this exhibit provides you with the perfect excuse to head to the MFA and check out this 170 piece collection.

October 13, 2013 – January 20, 2014 at MFA Boston

Fresh and full of light, the MFA’s latest exhibition traces the footsteps of this iconic American painter in his travels across Europe and the Middle East, exploring their landscapes and observing their people.  For a taste of Sargent’s genius, check out the murals he painted at the Boston Public Library before you visit the MFA. You may purchase tickets to the MFA exhibit here.