Hello, Elegant Lovelies,

I hope all the influential people in your life who represent a mother to you had a great day. My birthday was Saturday and it rained all day, however, I am walking on sunshine. I celebrate the whole month and I feel so grateful and thankful.

Don’t you like to see beautiful works of art? I do. I can really get into the meaning and representation of the painting.

For some reason museum professionals enjoy going to museums when they travel on holiday, go figure.

One of the Metropolitan Museum Art current temporary exhibits is “In Praise of Painting: Dutch Masterpieces at The Met.” The museum showcases 67 works exclusively from The Met’s permanent collection.

“The Met’s rich holdings of 17th-century Dutch masterpieces – the most extensive collection outside of Europe — have always been immensely popular with our visitors, said Max Hollein, Director of The Met. “This exhibition is a chance to gain a deeper understanding of how the shifting cultural climate of the time spurred artistic innovation and gave rise to some of the most beloved works of western art in all of history.”

I have to include some of my favorite pieces of artwork that you must see if you are in the New York City area.

Wheat Fields is a painting that takes your mind to a faraway place at another time. It looks like the clouds are about to either clear or light rain may be coming. The detail is impeccable.

Jacob van Ruisdael (Dutch, Haarlem 1628/29–1682 Amsterdam). Wheat Fields, ca. 1670. Oil on canvas, 39 3/8 x 51 1/4 in. (100 x 130.2 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913 (14.40.623)

The masterpiece below by Johannes Vermeer Young is Woman with a Water Pitcher from circa 1662. When I look at this painting, I always wonder what is she looking at through the stained glass window. And she has some really muscular hands from lifting those pitchers.

Johannes Vermeer (Dutch, Delft 1632–1675 Delft). Young Woman with a Water Pitcher, ca. 1662. Oil on canvas, 18 x 16 in. (45.7 x 40.6 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Marquand Collection, Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1889 (89.15.21)

I also enjoy looking at beautiful floral decorations and this painting is decadent and engaging. The colors in the Vase of Flowers by Margareta Haverman jump right out at you and intoxicatingly invite you into the view.

Margareta Haverman (Dutch, active by 1716–died 1722 or later). A Vase of Flowers, 1716. Oil on wood, 31 1/4 x 23 3/4 in. (79.4 x 60.3 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, 1871 (71.6)

I don’t want to give the entire exhibit away so I will share one more of my favorites with you. This painting, Woman with a Pink, by Rembrandt makes me wonder why she is holding that pink flower. Did her lover just break up with her and that’s all she has to remember him by? Did she just pluck the flower off of one of the hedges in the garden?
What do you think?

Look at all the detail in of the beadwork and jewelry in her hair, earrings, and gown So precise. Rembrandt is with highlighting the pearl in her earring and spotlighting her hands with the single pink flower.

Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) (Dutch, Leiden 1606–1669 Amsterdam). Woman with a Pink, the early 1660s. Oil on canvas. 36 1/4 x 29 3/8 in. (92.1 x 74.6 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913 (14.40.622)

“In Praise of Painting: Dutch Masterpieces at The Met,” is a must-see for any art lover. The exhibition will continue at The Metropolitan Museum of Art until  October 1, 2020. If you are the New York City area and get a chance to see the masterpieces in this exhibition, please let me know what you think.