Renowned artists like Rembrandt, Caravaggio, and Goya are now showcased in a whole new light, thanks to The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s significant infrastructure enhancement, marking its largest upgrade in history.
ADVERTISEMENTThe Metropolitan Museum of Art will reveal its complete set of 45 galleries devoted to European Paintings from 1300 to 1800 on Monday 20 November, after concluding an extensive skylight renovation project initiated five years ago.”Revisit: European Paintings 1300–1800″ will emphasize fresh narratives and juxtapositions among over 700 art pieces, including works by Rembrandt, Caravaggio, and Poussin, alongside the most extensive collections of El Greco and Goya outside Spain.According to the museum’s website, a sequential display will present the Museum’s “world-famous holdings, offering new dialogues and thematic groupings”.The redesigned galleries will “illuminate the interconnections of cultures, materials, and moments in the collection”.The undertaking marked the most significant infrastructure enhancement in the museum’s history, necessitating a budget of $150 million (approx. €138m).“The highly anticipated reopening of this extensive gallery collection will invite visitors to reconnect with old favorites – and explore remarkable recent gifts and lesser-known artworks – all within a newly envisioned context,” stated Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and CEO.Construction teams replaced 30,000 square feet of skylights, which were initially constructed in 1939 and last updated in 1952. The improvements offer better lighting, energy efficiency, and ideal display conditions for the paintings, explained Hollein.“The completion of the massive skylight renovation project enables us to exhibit these exceptional artworks in a magnificent setting, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to enjoy this splendid art and ideas presentation for many years to come.”Stephan Wolohojian, the John Pope-Hennessy Curator in Charge of the Department of European Paintings, added: “The skylights project provided us with a significant opportunity to reimagine the presentation of The Met’s extraordinary collection through a fresh perspective. Our aim is to engage meaningfully with our diverse audiences and enrich the viewing experience of our collection as much as possible.”The galleries will officially open on Monday 20 November. “Revisit: European Paintings 1300–1800”. 20 Nov. 2023 – Ongoing, at the Met Fifth Avenue, US.
