It's Been Awhile...

I went and visited a museum in my area not too many days ago, and I figured here was as good a place as any to mention some highlights! There were quite a few pieces that I found literally breathtaking, but I won't bore you with ALL of the details ;P

Those of you familiar with the San Francisco Bay area... this was all seen at the Legion of Honor!
First on the list... REMBRANDT! OH MY GOSH!!! I nearly died when I saw it. I am very near-sighted, so I can't see the little plaques on the wall until I get pretty close to the painting, but I was instantly drawn to this portrait. It stuck out from the rest of the paintings in a way I cannot describe. You just FEEL the energy and the life when you look at one of his portraits! The eyes alone are so expressive, and he really does capture the essence of a SPECIFIC person in paint. Portraits were always rather droll to me, but there is a DEFINITE reason why Rembrandt is considered a master! His colors, his details, and the flesh... it gives you chills look at that skin!!! Because you could just feel like if you reached out and touched it, it would FEEL like real skin!! It is truly brilliant and incredible!

DAUMIER'S Third Class Carriage was there! I had seen it many times in Art History books, but it was even more amazing in person! Wow... I AM IN LOVE with his lines!! He has really thick black outlines, and his brush strokes are so confident! It's tiny, but incredible to see in person!

There was an INCREDIBLE! Engraving called "The Finding of the Savior in the Temple" by Blanchard III after William Holman Hunt-- I can't find any pictures of it online, so you'll just have to take my word for it when I say it was unbelievable!

... and then I nearly died of happiness... because there was Cezanne's Forest Interior! My gosh! that man can paint landscapes!! I even started tearing up over that one... it was just so awesome! His brush strokes and color in that one... A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!! I didn't want to leave after I saw it... I just wanted to stand there and stare at it forever! If you have ANY love for Cezanne whatsoever I really encourage you to see his works in person. To see the way he brushes color onto that canvas. It almost appears as if he dabs his brush into every color on his palette at the same time and smears all of them on in one brush stroke, while still achieving color distinction. I have been a long-time Cezanne fan, but to see this in person is just remarkable!

Then there was a first for me. An artist by the name of Pittoni painted a Descent from the Cross with oils on canvas... but it was entirely black and white 0.o Totally funk-tastic! The contrast was actually pretty high, and the overall tone was very crisp and cool.

AND ... AND... AND... you ready for this?!?!
EL GRECO'S St. John the Baptist!!!!!! I nearly had an orgasm right then and there... not even trying to be funny... it was SO incredible!
I have had a serious affair with El Greco for a while now, but had not had an opportunity to see any of his paintings in person, to get that chance so unexpectedly really made my day! His elongated forms, the high contrast of his colors, the method of application... EVERYTHING! It was ... utterly fabulous!

I hope you didn't mind the rambling all too much!
Have a blissfully blustery fall weekend!! =)