The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is the largest art museum in the United States. It houses more than two million works of art. Our itinerary called for us to spend one morning there. So we had to choose what kind of art we most wanted to see and head directly there.
The entire building is a work of art. Just peeking down hallways you can see lovely architecture like this.
We opted to see the Impressionist artists and made a beeline for those rooms. It’s a large section with many adjoining areas. My favorites are here, including Auguste Renoir and his girls at the piano theme.
In this Renoir painting of Madame Charpentier and her family, we were surprised to learn that the younger child is her son Paul, dressed identically with his sister Georgette. How styles have changed.
Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings at The Met include the little known still life not mentioned in any of the artist’s letters. Scholars conclude that, because of the blues and earth tones, Van Gogh painted this at Auvers near the end of his life in 1890.
This more typical Van Gogh is also at The Met.
The View of the Domaine Saint-Joseph by Paul Cezanne is one of the few paintings this artist signed. It’s also the first Cezanne to enter an American art gallery. It was purchased during the historic Armory Show of 1913 for the highest price of any painting in that exhibition.
One of my favorite artists is Edgar Degas. A good showing of his focus on ballet is found at The Met.
I love this sculpture of a young ballerina, with her cloth tutu.
We thought we had found all of the work of the impressionists when I wandered through a door and discovered an entire room of sculptures by Degas. What a beautiful place.
The café at The Met offers cafeteria-style food. Salads, sandwiches, and grilled selections are available, with a yogurt bar and cookies for dessert. After lunch, we headed out and hopped on the bus for more adventures. The foggy day cleared up somewhat, so we decided to check out the view from the top of the Empire State Building. From the 86th floor you can go all the way around for a 360-degree viewing of the city.
You can see the World’s Largest Store, the Macy’s of Miracle on 34th Street fame.
The detailed architecture is fascinating.
It’s not difficult to find a taxi in New York City.
My favorite building in New York City is the Flatiron Building. It’s in the shape of a triangle, is 22 stories high, and is less than seven feet at its point. Built in 1902, it was called “Burnham’s Folly” by some people who were sure it would topple over. It’s still standing, folks.
Here’s a closer view from another day when we walked to see the Flatiron.
Back down in the lobby of the Empire State Building, the security guard seemed to be hiding behind the flowers.
That evening we enjoyed the show, Wicked. What fun! I highly recommend this funny and touching story.
From morning to night, it was a fine day in New York City.
IF YOU GO:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is open Sunday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Suggested admission is adults $25, seniors $17, students $12, children free.
The Empire State Building is open every day of the year from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets to the 86th floor observation deck are adults $34, seniors $31, and children $12.
The New York City Pass provides admission to both The Met and the Empire State Building. We used this and we were able to skip to the front of a long line at the Empire State Building, a big time saver!
38 Comments
Beautiful hall! Lovely paintings,Sharon and thank you for sharing them with All Seasons! Impressionism has still very popular on this side of the pond. What is neat is that different paintings of the same painters are known here (than in Eur.) Also love your captures of the early high rises, which I favor, – they are more distinct and characteristics!
Have a great week (how’s it in Southern Cal? We finally reached 90-100 last weekend for the first time this year)!
Really enjoyed your post and it looks as if you had a wonderful time in new York City. I have had the privilege of going to the Met once and was overwhelmed by all that is in that museum. You also have some lovely shots of the city and its architecture
Amazing
Oh I love the MET! I’ve been SO many times and still haven’t seen it all!
I love a beautiful museum and this is certainly one of the loveliest. Your travel blog always makes me happy. Thanks for sharing.
Hi,
Never been to New York, but have always wanted to travel there. Thank you so much for sharing your day trip.
Have a great day!
2 mil works of art! w-o-w! I wonder how much time (days) one would need to see everything. lovely photos.
The Met is high on my list… next to the Louvre (which I have been too) it houses a ton of art I want to see in real life. Art in person is so much better than art in photos.
The Flatiron is my favorite NYC building as well. I’d love to live in that building, on the 7 foot side so I get to have almost a 360 view. 🙂
,
Lisa @ Lisa Kerner ~ Simply Living Photography
Awesome post! I love the Impressionists and the Chrysler Building has always been my favorite NY building! What an amazing trip. Loved the photos of everything.
This brings a lot of memories from my own trip to NYC. We loved the museums and the theater (we saw “Phantom of the Opera”). Love your city shots as well from high above. When it comes to skylines nothing beats NYC. Thanks for linking up with “Through My Lens”
Mersad
Mersad Donko Photography
Your images of the buildings of New York are wonderful. This is the only way I will ever get to see them.
Thanks for sharing
I love museums but have unfortunately never been to the Met. I would love to see the Sculpture Hall, the Van Goghs but also the room of ballerina scupltures. I hadn;t realised the views of the city were so fantastic from there! #Citytripping
stunning views and great art! #citytripping
Ah I love the Met – I used to go there every week with my class in grad school. Looks like you had the ultimate time in NYC! #citytripping
Oh, WICKED was wickedly good, wasn’t it?! That’s got to be one of the my all-time favorite Broadway musicals. I wish I had visited this museum, too, when I was there; I only had time for the MoMA then. Next time…!
Fantastic! Thanks for the tour!
I’ve never been to the Met but it’s on my list. I’d love to see the Edgar Degas paintings. 🙂
I love Wicked! Fabulous shots.
Loved the Met. Such a great collection.
Great photos from your trip. Thanks for sharing them, and providing details about them. (I saved your links because I’ve been meaning to take a day trip into NYC.)
Looks like a beautiful visit. The Met was one of my favorite places when I visited New York.
Amalia
xo
I think if I ever go to New York the Met is one place which I could easily spend a whole day or two in! Thank you for the peek inside and the views of New York. Happy travels. I’m joining you over at Communal GLobal.
Wonderful photos! I LOVE the Chrysler Building closeup! We love the Met and almost always visit when in NYC! The Egyptian rooms are spectacular! #farawayfiles
What a lovely place! Love all of the paintings! And the view of the city is amazing!
I never miss the Met when I’m in New York. I love the Impressionists too. What a wonderful collection they have there. Probably equal to the Musee D’Orsay. Thanks for joining #FarawayFiles
Thanks for the tour!
After visiting New York many times, I can’t believe I have not been to the MET. Last time, I visited on winter, so, I should have included some indoor attractions but ended up doing most things outdoors (go figure). I would like to see the Impressionist works too. The views from the Empire State are grandiose. Last time, I went to the Top of the Rock and the views were great too. #TPThursday
I have been lucky enough to live in NYC for the last 13 years! I love the Met, there is just so much to see that it never gets old. Impressionism is one of my favorite types of art too. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.
I grew up in NY and have never been to the Met. Thankfully I have been to the other places you mentioned. Now I don’t feel so bad. My favorite building is the flatiron also. Thanks for sharing #theweeklypostcard
I didn’t have much time, so I did the highlights tour. Great place! Might have to go back.
I get really overwhelmed in big museums like the Met, or the Louvre or the Rijksmuseum. The best way to deal with them is just what you did: focus on just one section instead of trying to see too much. My favorite art museum in NYC is the Museum of Modern Art. It’s a more manageable size and has examples from all the most important post-war artists.
I was shocked to hear that the MET has 2 million pieces of art. Incredible. The overview of the room is beautiful and makes me want to be there.
I loved visiting the Met, and remember also photographing that young ballerina statue. The artwork you included in this post is amazing, as it is also some of my favourite artists. Thanks for sharing your day in NYC with us at #farawayfiles
New York has incredible architecture, we always love visiting our brother and friends out there. We have yet to check out the Met, but after looking at all of your pictures we have to make a point to go. Beautiful post 🙂
I knew I liked you! I love Degas as well! I’ve seen that ballerina with the cloth tutu – adore her! And that picture of the Chrysler Building – STUNNING! You are an excellent photographer! Your 9/11 post last week was very meaningful to me and one of my favorites for #FarawayFiles. Thanks again for sharing this with #FarawayFiles. Cheers from Copenhagen, Erin
We really enjoyed this post – and not just because we’re kinda dorks about museums! We have yet to make it to the Met, though, so this was a good reminder for us to get there! And then a visit to the Empire State Building – what great views. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard!
Those pictures are breathtaking! Excellent post!
Impressive! I just went and look at my pictures again, and they are nowhere near as good. It was 6 years ago, and I don’t recall seeing any impressionist paintings. We had spent too much time in the Egyptian and Chinese exhibits and probably ran out of time. We had visited Chinatown, Central Park and the museum that day in the spring.