On our recent visit to the Walters Art Museum, we enjoyed a random selection of the items on permanent display as well as the special exhibits in yesterpost.
We saw a large wine cooler perfect for drinking with panache. It dates from the early 1800s and was made in England. It's a fun combination of fine and functional art.
This 18th-century pitcher and basin was produced at Vincennes, a posh Paris suburb. The turquoise color is blue celeste, a popular and innovative color at the time.
Another 18th-century French work is L'amour et L'amitie, or Love and Friendship. This particular statue is a 1783 copy by Claude Dijoux, who was authorized by the original sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle. The original is in the Louvre and was carved out of marble. This plaster remake was made for Marie Catherine de Brignole, mistress of the prince of Conde, for her estate. The Walters family acquired it in 1914.
We saw a fantastic chest that really wanted us to open its drawers, but I am sure the security guards would not understand.
The museum has plenty of paintings that weren't very interesting to my children. Maybe in later years they will appreciate them. I might even get a closer look at them!
Another room seemed like a treasure trove of exotic specimens, both biological and artificial. Again, we moved through rather quickly.
The armor room was more interesting to the boys.
The gun shield date from the 1540s and was an experimental weapon developed in Ravenna by Giovanni Battista for King Henry VIII of England. The idea is to combine technologies. The practical problem is that the gun is too heavy to aim without some support, rendering it almost complete ineffective (especially since King Henry wanted his bodyguards to carry them). The royal armory kept some as curiosities.
Adam and Eve make their appearance in this glazed terracotta panel from Florence. It was made to celebrate Pope Leo X's visit in 1515. He was from a local family, the Medicis, and his coat of arms in in the middle on the bottom.
In the medieval section, I found a highly-detailed altarpiece depicting the crucifixion.
The kids discovered a recreation of a great hall from the medieval period, where nobility would entertain guests. Board games were even part of the entertainment.
On our way out, we saw Armor Fish (a.k.a. Sir Galashad) created in 2001 by Karl Saar. He was inspired by the Walters' armor display and constructed it for the 2001 Fish Out of Water exhibit at the museum. It was whimsical enough to earn a place on regular display near the gift shop.
The last item we saw on our way out was this Mayan chocolate pot circa 250-550 AD. Back in the day, the Mayans drank their chocolate with honey and chili peppers. The invention of chocolate bars came much later by different people.
We are sure to visit the museum again to see more of the permanent items and hopefully some new, fun temporary exhibits.
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| The Walters Art Museum |
We saw a large wine cooler perfect for drinking with panache. It dates from the early 1800s and was made in England. It's a fun combination of fine and functional art.
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| A wine cooler! |
This 18th-century pitcher and basin was produced at Vincennes, a posh Paris suburb. The turquoise color is blue celeste, a popular and innovative color at the time.
 |
| Pitcher and Basin, circa 1755 |
Another 18th-century French work is L'amour et L'amitie, or Love and Friendship. This particular statue is a 1783 copy by Claude Dijoux, who was authorized by the original sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle. The original is in the Louvre and was carved out of marble. This plaster remake was made for Marie Catherine de Brignole, mistress of the prince of Conde, for her estate. The Walters family acquired it in 1914.
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| L'amour et L'amitie |
We saw a fantastic chest that really wanted us to open its drawers, but I am sure the security guards would not understand.
 |
| An amazing chest |
The museum has plenty of paintings that weren't very interesting to my children. Maybe in later years they will appreciate them. I might even get a closer look at them!
 |
| A bright corner |
Another room seemed like a treasure trove of exotic specimens, both biological and artificial. Again, we moved through rather quickly.
 |
| A good variety of things |
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| Can't open the drawers on this chest |
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| Triptych of the Three Wise Men visiting Baby Jesus |
The armor room was more interesting to the boys.
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| On guard |
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| A good selection of helmets |
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| That same guard from two pictures ago |
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| Yeah, that's a gun shield |
The gun shield date from the 1540s and was an experimental weapon developed in Ravenna by Giovanni Battista for King Henry VIII of England. The idea is to combine technologies. The practical problem is that the gun is too heavy to aim without some support, rendering it almost complete ineffective (especially since King Henry wanted his bodyguards to carry them). The royal armory kept some as curiosities.
Adam and Eve make their appearance in this glazed terracotta panel from Florence. It was made to celebrate Pope Leo X's visit in 1515. He was from a local family, the Medicis, and his coat of arms in in the middle on the bottom.
 |
| Adam and Eve, 1515 |
In the medieval section, I found a highly-detailed altarpiece depicting the crucifixion.
 |
| Altarpiece |
The kids discovered a recreation of a great hall from the medieval period, where nobility would entertain guests. Board games were even part of the entertainment.
 |
| A quick game of checkers |
On our way out, we saw Armor Fish (a.k.a. Sir Galashad) created in 2001 by Karl Saar. He was inspired by the Walters' armor display and constructed it for the 2001 Fish Out of Water exhibit at the museum. It was whimsical enough to earn a place on regular display near the gift shop.
 |
| Armor Fish (a.k.a. Sir Galashad), 2001 |
The last item we saw on our way out was this Mayan chocolate pot circa 250-550 AD. Back in the day, the Mayans drank their chocolate with honey and chili peppers. The invention of chocolate bars came much later by different people.
 |
| Mayan Chocolate Pot |
We are sure to visit the museum again to see more of the permanent items and hopefully some new, fun temporary exhibits.
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