What's your favorite art "experience" in Europe?
 

Just wondering what everyone's favorite piece of art is in Europe? I'm not an art lover by any means, but Michelangelo's Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel really stuck with me. We got shooed out of the Chapel at closing time by those annoying museum security guards, but I could have looked at it for at least another hour. Anyone else have something they particularly like and go see whenever they're in the city?

I spent quite a long time sitting on the bench "behind" the Statue of David, if you know what I mean.

My first sight of Caravaggio's 'The Beheading of St John the Baptist' in St John's Cathedral in Valetta, Malta, was an awesome moment. The painting had just gone back on display after an amazing restoration, which took years and cost millions, and the depth of the work was simply breathtaking. A definite artistic high!

1. Sculpture...."David", nothing else comes close! A distant second, "The Gates of Hell" by Rodin. Most over rated, "Venus de Milo", looks like about 1000 others.<BR><BR>2. Painting..."The Nightwatch" by Rembrandt. Amazing how the use of light works in that painting. A close seconf any painting by any other impressionist!<BR><BR>3. Most over rated....Mona Lisa...what a major disappointment!<BR><BR>US

Two of my favorite pieces of art, both sculptures by Bernini, are in the Borghese Gallery in Rome: Apollo and Daphne, and Pluto and Proserpina. I love the way Bernini portrays Daphne at the moment she's turning into a tree, with leaves sprouting from her fingertips, and I thought the way Bernini showed Pluto's fingers digging deep into Proserpina's thigh was amazing.<BR><BR>I can't remember who did it, or what it's called, but another of my favorites is another sculpture, in the Frari church in Venice. It's for someone's tomb and it's a powerful piece with four muscular, towering jet-black Moors in white robes glaring down at the observer. You can almost feel their eyes piercing you.

I love the mosiac floors in St. Marks in Venice. AMAZING !!

I totally agree with Capo - the sculpture that I loved was in the Borghese Museum in Rome. <BR><BR>It was by Bernini and I think it was called 'The Rape of....' (can't think of the rest of the name at the moment), but it's the same one Capo recommened - I absolutely amazed at how Bernini was able to show Pluto's hand pressing onto Proserpina's thigh.<BR><BR>We saw this before we saw the David in Florence, and Bernini's sculpture totally blows the David away!

I think it is the Rape of Proserpina. (???)

Pluto and Proserpina: <BR><BR>http://www.galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/eproserp.htm<BR><BR>Also, Borghese Gallery home page:<BR><BR>http://www.galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/edefault.htm<BR><BR>And the website below has a photo and description of this funeral monument (of Doge Giovanni Pesaro) in Venice's Frari church:<BR><BR>http://www.ciaovenezia.com/frari/leftaisle.htm<BR><BR>Of the four gigantic Moors, the website says: "They simply look alive!" and that's very true.

Perhaps it was because it was my first trip to Europe and my first opportunity to see a masterpiece "up close and personal", but when I walked into the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and saw "The Nightwatch" I was completely in awe. I've since been to many other museums and seen many other beautiful works of art, but that first experience has always remained my favorite.

Hi. Thanks for starting this good thread. I've been thinking about your question, and I remember one particular painting from the collection which is now in the Musee d'Orsay (I saw it in the Jeu de Paume years ago). <BR><BR>It's "Reading" by Edouard Manet, and it's a painting of a seated young woman in white with a gentleman in the shadows reading (poetry?) to her. The light simply shimmers over the fabrics and the brushstrokes are wonderful and the moment is spellbinding. J.

Great question, Kim.<BR><BR>I'll throw my vote in with Capo and Anna. The work of Bernini just mesmerizes me. While most people seem to flock to the statue of Apollo & Daphne, I am always drawn to Pluto & Proserpina.<BR><BR>Also, I am humorously fond of what I nicknamed "The Palatine Pinky Toe." As the name implies, it is on the Palatine Hill. It is this great big sandaled foot missing all of its toes, save one. :)

Another vote for Borghese e Bernini.

The Water Lilies at Marmottan - sitting in a room surrounded by them was profound.<BR><BR>Rodin's sculptures of women's heads - this man loooooved women. I always feel happy when I look into those faces.<BR><BR>The Frank Lloyd Wright room at the V&A

Two favorites for me. Matthais Grinewald's Isenheim Altarpiece in the Musee Unterlinden, Colmar, France, and The Altar of Zeus and Athena in the Pergamon Museum, Berlin, Germany. Since these are such large works and completely command the space that the viewer stands in, the experience one receives is that of being included in the artwork itself. Grunewald's imagination and use of color is incredible, as are the emotional expressions on the faces of the figures in the Altar of Zeus and Athena.

<BR>"Piera",the unfinished sculpture by Michelangelo in Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence.<BR><BR>"Peach Blossoms" in Van Gohg Museum in Amsterdam.<BR><BR>The breathtaking seaview from Tate Gallery in St.Ives.

Any cell in the Museo San Marco (the Fra Angelico museum), the Donatello sculpture of Mary Magdalene in Florence (either in the Bargello or the Museo del Duomo), the Pinturicchio frescoes in the Piccolomini library in the Siena Duomo, the astounding Veronese frescoes in the church in Venice whose name escapes me, the stained glass windows in Ste. Chappelle and Chartres.

While my favorite piece from my recent trip to Italy is the Apollo & Daphne, my greatest "moment" was seeing the Dying Gaul at the Capitoline Museum. In all the photos I've seen (and as a art histry major, I've seen tons)I never before noticed his mustache! It was sort of an epiphany for me--no matter how much you study or think you know about art, unless you have seen it person you know nothing.

For me it's Klimt's Judith in the Belvedere in Vienna. I'm also very fond of the art nouveau furniture rooms in the Musee d'Orsay.

Another vote for Bernini at Borghese - as beautiful as it gets. Wonderful detail and motion in his works. <BR><BR>David at the Accademia - an obvious choice but for good reasons. The most spectacular piece of art I have seen.<BR><BR>The Rodin Museum in Paris. I don't know if I could name one favorite in particular. I just love the emotion in his work.<BR><BR>

I agree with the Rodin Museum -- the building and grounds are so beautiful,they complement Rodin's work so well. We probably would have passed up this museum if it hadn't been just around the corner from our hotel, and I'm so glad we went.<BR>Also, everything in St Peter's.<BR>The circular staircase in the Vatican Museum (art you can walk on!)<BR>Raphael's "Transfiguration."<BR>Michelangelo's "Last Judgement."<BR>And David in Florence and The Pieta (even if it is behind that glass wall) in St. Peter's.<BR>Obvious choices, I know, but you have to see them in person!<BR>Pam B.<BR><BR>

Even though it's already been listed, here's yet another vote for the statue of David--breathtaking! It seems as if his expression changes depending upon where you are standing to view him.<BR><BR>Also another vote for the Rodin Museum. A wonderfully intimate place to see some truly astounding work.<BR><BR>Strive

<BR>Seeing the perfect Matisse drawings<BR>in the Musee Matisse in Nice - then<BR>crossing the road to visit his tomb.<BR><BR>Also walking into the Nat.London and<BR>seeing the 'wall' of Monet's Waterlilies.

Looking at the Picasso nudes. Man, those women are hot.

I love the Rodin Museum too, especially the beautiful grounds...a lovely oasis in that part of Paris. <BR><BR>Julie, I agree; that art nouveau furniture in the Musee d'Orsay is wonderful! <BR><BR>Another very moving sculpture is a (I think) war memorial in the public gardens in Cortona. It shows an angel gently cradling a dead soldier, and reminded me of the Pieta (which is another of my favorite works of art.)

Best experience I had was at the Hayward Gallery in London, at Sam Taylor-Woods films/video installation. There's a long panel with four subjects that just blows your mind. My wife and I loved it.

I enjoyed the David in the Accademia in Florence. The Capitoline Museum in Rome with the Dying Gall and the Caravaggio painting in the church of St. Peter being crucified upside down. All are outstanding. M.

In the Frogner park in Oslo- the sculpture of the old couple.Sorry if it sounds a bit vague but anyone else who has been similarly "grabbed" by it as I was will know which one I mean

It has to be a visit to the Hermitage in Russia. The Hermitage collection contains over three million items and one of the best collections of art in the world. Among the items are Rembrants, the largest collection outside the Netherlands, Rubens, Van Dyck, Picasso, Matisse, Renoirs, Van Goughs, Gauguins, Cezannes, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo plus many other ones. My favorite is The Portrait of a Lady in a Blue Shawl, by Thomas Gainsborough.

Painting: Raphael's "Ascension" in the Vatican Museum.<BR><BR>Room: the Rembrandt room in the Louvre.<BR><BR>Honorable mention to the entire Musee d'Orsay.

Wonderful memories all. I have to agree with the Rodin, museum and grounds; the Picasso Museum in Paris is also wonderful in its entirety. Seeing Monet's Impression Sunrise at the Musee Marmottan was a special experience. In Florence, Michelangelo's David and the Slaves at the Accademia are wonderful. We loved the Michelangelo Pieta at the Museo del Opera del Duomo. It is almost more touching than the more famous Pieta in St. Peters. After seeing the unremarkable statuary on Michelangelo's tomb In Sta. Croce, we thought how fitting it would be if the Pieta at the Museo del Duomo had been placed on the tomb instead..