Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Feb 7th, 2011, 11:17 AM
#1
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Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
I have posted in praise of the new American Wing at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
This is to praise the new wing at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.
The new wing opened last May, and like its Boston cousin, the VMFA is taking the opportunity to rearrange and reemphasize its collections.
The new wing focuses on American and Native American art, but it also includes a splendid collection of South Asian art (Nepal to India/Sri Lanka). The Boston MFA has much greater depth but the VMFA collection is beautifully hung, and the quality is very high. The curators have clearly taken pleasure in leading you around corners to stunning views of paintings you did not expect to find. As in Boston, furniture and artifacts are paired with painting and sculpture, and the VMFA did it first!
There are significant collections of Faberge, of British sporting paintings and of art nouveau jewelry and art deco furniture.
Not to be missed among the Baroque paintings in the older portion of the building is a stunning nude by Artemisia Gentileschi, a very rarely held and important woman painter of the period.
And best of all, like the museums in London, the VMFA is free, free, free!
We are members of both museums because we believe they both need our support as well as our interest and enjoyment!
If you are visiting or passing by Richmond, it is well worth taking the short detour off the interstate for a visit and a lunch in the cafe or the restaurant.
This is to praise the new wing at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.
The new wing opened last May, and like its Boston cousin, the VMFA is taking the opportunity to rearrange and reemphasize its collections.
The new wing focuses on American and Native American art, but it also includes a splendid collection of South Asian art (Nepal to India/Sri Lanka). The Boston MFA has much greater depth but the VMFA collection is beautifully hung, and the quality is very high. The curators have clearly taken pleasure in leading you around corners to stunning views of paintings you did not expect to find. As in Boston, furniture and artifacts are paired with painting and sculpture, and the VMFA did it first!
There are significant collections of Faberge, of British sporting paintings and of art nouveau jewelry and art deco furniture.
Not to be missed among the Baroque paintings in the older portion of the building is a stunning nude by Artemisia Gentileschi, a very rarely held and important woman painter of the period.
And best of all, like the museums in London, the VMFA is free, free, free!
We are members of both museums because we believe they both need our support as well as our interest and enjoyment!
If you are visiting or passing by Richmond, it is well worth taking the short detour off the interstate for a visit and a lunch in the cafe or the restaurant.
Feb 7th, 2011, 11:30 AM
#2
Did you eat at any of the restaurants there, Akislander? I haven't been up since the redo but am looking forward to a visit in the near future. I want to see the Picasso exhibit while it is there.
http://www.vmfa.state.va.us/Picasso/
http://www.vmfa.state.va.us/Picasso/
Feb 11th, 2011, 03:10 AM
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The museum restaurant is very good, but only open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and must be reserved well in advance.
What kinds of things do you like to eat and drink? The Musuem is in the middle of a LOT of restaurants.
What kinds of things do you like to eat and drink? The Musuem is in the middle of a LOT of restaurants.
Feb 11th, 2011, 04:56 AM
#7
We're pretty diverse in our eating -- like any ethnic (Italian, Asian, French, Inidian whatever). Also enjoy "New" American cuisine & love good barbeque. Price wise would be moderate - dinner for $100 (or less) for 2. Thanks!
Feb 11th, 2011, 05:05 AM
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Bonvenu in Carytown is good and you could go to Secco or CanCan for a cocktail/glass of wine beforehand and walk around the area, look at shops, etc.
In the Fan area, Acacia is very good as is Six Burner.
In the Fan area, Acacia is very good as is Six Burner.
Feb 12th, 2011, 04:49 AM
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The restaurant, Lemaire, (and bar- great happy hr drinks and food) at the Jefferson Hotel are nice also. I esp. like drinks and an app in the bar, then move on to Lemaire. Ignore the reviews for Lemaire that are more than 1.5 yrs old. The restaurant has changed and is now very very good, using a lot of local farms for their food ingredients, and offers some very good VA wines (and others). Check the Open Table reviews as they are more recent.
