Masterpieces from Paris
On Wednesday we went to Canberra to see the Masterpieces from Paris exhibition. Has anyone else been?
We had wanted to go earlier but family matters kept us from going until now, when it is getting very crowded. We queued for an hour and then it was very crowded inside - the room with the Cezannes and van Goghs was like a scrum. I'm not being critical because I understand the time is limited and it's great that so many people want to see great art, but I is hard to take in the beauty and emotion in a subway atmosphere. Got in at 2.30 and stayed to closing at 5. That was too little time to appreciate every thing. I didn't think it was all great but the good stuff more than made the trip worthwhile - in fact van Gogh's 'Starry Night' alone was worth the cost.
Towards closing time I realised that the first few rooms - where IMHO all the good pieces were - were getting very empty. So I got to look at the Monets and the Neo-Impressionists (esp Signac and Pissarro) and many of the Cezannes and van Goghs almost alone. However the crowd around 'Starry Night' never thinned out. That is one stunning work.
It really was an enjoyable day and has reminded me that I should spend more time appreciating the visual arts.
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