New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)

New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) Review

Gracing the main entrance to City Park, this traditional fine arts museum, built in 1911, is considered by many to be the centerpiece of the whole area. Drawing from classic Greek architecture, the gorgeous building now boasts several modern wings that bring additional light and space to the grand old building. An elegant central staircase carries visitors to the upper floors, and the many formal rooms offer superb gallery exhibits. The jeweled treasures, particularly some of the famous eggs by Peter Carl Fabergé, are a favorite exhibit, along with European and American paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, and photography. The museum holds one of the largest glass collections in the country and has developed a unique Art of the Americas collection that includes a range of Latin American and Native American works. Several period-room installations feature 18th- and 19th-century American furniture and decorative arts. The comprehensive Asian art wing includes a good selection of Japanese paintings of the Edo period. African, Oceanic, pre-Columbian, and Louisiana art are also represented. In addition, the museum offers a year-round schedule of traveling and special exhibits, special events, openings, guest lectures and tours.

Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Henry Moore's handsome Reclining Mother and Child greets visitors at the entrance of this outdoor sculpture garden. Most of the garden's 50-some sculptures, representing some of the biggest names in modern art, were donated by local pharmacy magnate and avid collector Sydney Besthoff. Meandering trails and bridges over bayou lagoons carry visitors through a fascinating combination of famed traditional sculpture and modern contemporary works, including major pieces by Jacques Lipchitz, Barbara Hepworth, and Joel Shapiro. 504/658-4100. www.noma.org. Free. Wed.-Sun. 10-4:45.