My Day At The Met

A Young Prince Seated on a Throne, Gazing in a Mirror (detail)
c.1690-1700, Punjab, India.

In one day I traveled through multiple countries, time periods, cultures & genres of art. Everything from sculpture to paintings, to jewelry... and fashion! This is an easy task, mind you, when you're at the Met Museum of Art. The senses are delighted and the mind expands. I can't think of a better way to spend the day!

I started my day in the Greek and Roman Arts atrium-like hall - and with the bright sun streaming through the glass ceiling, it brought the classical statues to life and reminded me of my time spent amongst the ruins of ancient Greece & Rome. I blissfully loitered there for awhile, soaking it all in before heading to the smaller side galleries where items such as pottery, glass & jewelry of the period are on view.

Classical statues in the Greek & Roman Art Court

Stunning black & white mosaic floor

Etruscan striped agate & hard stone pendant necklace, 5th century BC.
Note the beautifully coiffed ladies in gold.

Two exquisite Roman pieces: Gold crescent necklace, 1st-3rd c. AD
Jasper intaglio of a horseman spearing a boar, in gold frame with pearls & glass, 2nd-3rd c. AD

I could spend hours in this part of the museum! Especially when there are such great examples of jewelry from the ancient world - including the gold necklace above with its hand woven chain, wheel shaped finials set with pearls and its crescent pendant, a symbol of the sun & moon. These motifs were popular in jewelry throughout the Roman Empire and are just as relevant in design today.

Todi Ragini: A Lady with a Vina Attracts Two Deers, Deccan, probably Aurangabad
c. 1700, opaque watercolor on paper.

Madhava Ragaputra, Son of Bhairava Raga: A Young Prince Seated on a Throne, Gazing in a Mirror,
Punjabi Hills, kingdom of Chamba, c. 1690-1700 Opaque watercolor heightened with gold on paper.

Next up: Two of my favorite paintings from the Divine Pleasures exhibit -Paintings from India's Rajput Courts. The vibrant color and extreme detail of these works of art are absolutely stunning. This style of art, dating back centuries, has always fascinated and delighted me with its story telling nature of courtly life - and tales of Hindu deities. Not only are the stylized scenes of nature and the costumes brilliant but the jewelry is, of course, fabulous! Just look at the prince in his bright orange robes,white flower garland and many jewels. I can perfectly understand why he is admiring his splendid reflection in the mirror!

House of Dior Ensemble - Spring/summer 2015, haute couture collection

L'Elephant Blanc Evening Dress -from Yves Saint Laurent's debut collection for the
House of Dior - Spring/summer 1958 haute couture

Dolce & Gabbana Dress - Spring/summer 2013, haute couture collection 

After a spot of lunch at the American Art Café, I made my way to the Manus x Machina exhibit - Fashion in an Age of Technology - a show that explores the relationship of handmade and machine-made within the designs of the great fashion houses of the 20th and 21st century. Different from any of the Costume Institute's exhibits I've seen before and a little more low key this time - but some very impressive pieces on view nonetheless, and many that I absolutely loved - including the 3 featured here.  Each of these exquisite haute couture designs are examples of a combination of handmade and machine-made pieces - from hand pleated, hand embroidered and hand applied elements of the garments, along with machine sewn and laser-cut pieces, such as in the wool fleece appliqué on the Dolce & Gabbana dress. (bottom image). Although I loved many designs in the show, I think my absolute favorite was the Dior evening dress (middle image), which was part of Yves Saint Laurent's premier collection with the fabled Parisian fashion house in 1958. Perfection is the word I would use to describe the "trapeze line" evening dress with hand applied sequins and beads, complete with multiple layers of tulle to provide the rigid understructure needed to make the dress seem effortless. The name of the dress, L'Elephant Blanc, paid homage to the fashionable Parisian night spot and alluded to the expense and effort in creating the exquisite garment. Only in Paris! Love!
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-Although I saw more at the Met that day, I will finish here and save the rest for another blog post in the near future! As always, every time I go to the Met I learn something new, I delight in the color, design and history of things and walk away replenished and inspired. What more can one ask for :)