I
wish I had known about the Museum of Art and Archaeology sooner than just a few days before
its long hiatus. The museum itself is so
small and cozy. It’s almost like
stepping into someone’s home instead of a building that houses valuable works
of art. Plus, it’s on the campus of Mizzou, which
makes it convenient! I would be more
than happy to spend a few afternoons strolling from work of art to work of art,
taking everything in bit by bit. Sadly,
that can dream can no longer be because the museum closed on September 30th.*sad face*
The cast gallery was my favorite
room in the museum. All of the casts
were impressive, but the one that stood out among the rest was Nike of Samothrace. Impressive doesn’t even begin to cover this
cast. When I read about the sculpture in my
art history book, I completely underestimated its size. It towers over viewers. I felt small and meek in comparison to its
awesome size. The care with which Nike was carved must have been immense. It’s a shame that the creator of Nike is unknown. Someone should be able to have credit for the creation of the sculpture. I can’t even imagine sitting
down in front of a chunk of marble and chiseling away to create such a
beautiful masterpiece. Sure, it’s
missing both arms and its head, but I think there is so much more beauty in its
imperfection. I tried my best to capture
the presence of Nike of Samothrace on
paper, but the cast is something that needs to be seen in person.
After spending some time in the cast
gallery, I made my way through the rest of the museum. I loved looking at all of the paintings. As an amateur artist, seeing the intricate, detailed paintings was like a second Christmas. I felt inspired just by being in the presence
of such amazing works of art. One of my
favorite paintings was Lake of the
Avernus painted by Samuel Lancaster Gerry in 1851. Landscapes are one of the main focuses in my own artwork, and looking at other depictions of landscapes is a great way to gain
new ideas. Lake of the Avernus looked like a little piece of heaven, which
would make sense since Lake Avernus is supposedly the entrance to the
underworld. If I could paint half as well as Gerry, that would still be an accomplishment.
I’m so glad I was able to have the opportunity
to tour the Museum of Art and Archaeology before it closed. When it
comes back to campus, I will definitely return to enjoy the art once again.
