Roadie: Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC

Arriving before the crowds, we quickly gained entrance. (8/31/14)

Last weekend, while returning my stepson to Columbia University for  his sophomore year, my wife and I found ourselves with some free time and used it to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Anne and I went into the experience fully aware that we would be hard pressed to see even a portion part of the museum's extensive collections in the 3 hours we had set aside to tour. The weather in New York City that day was especially humid, and with the building being air conditioned, we also recognized the likelihood of many others seeking to be both nourished by the art and to escape the heat. These factors (time and attendance did nothing to hamper our enjoyment f the pieces we did get to see, and further increased our desire to return for some other exhibits when we go back for Parents' Weekend in October.

The wide array of requires that each person's tour of the museum to be an individualized one--it would be impossible to meaningfully walk the entirety of the Met in a single walk through. For today's trip, in addition to the Delaware painting, I hoped to see the collection of European armor as well as whatever else we could take in.

As artistic movements reflect the development of cultures as well as the ebb and flow of history, the Met is as much what one would think of as a historical museum as an art one. Despite being on a mission to see Washington Crossing the Delaware, much of our time was spent wandering exhibits that, while influential on the development of the United States and Americans, could not rightly be considered the products of either. What follows are some pictures we took of just a small portion of what we had a chance to see on our first trip to the Met. In many cases, rather than try to capture the image on film, we chose to simply take it in. Once again, much of the factual information is from Wikipedia.

No admission is required a $25 donation is suggested; the donation cost is well worth it.

The Temple of Dendur. (8/31/14)

The Temple of Dendur is an Egyptian temple that was built by the Roman governor of Egypt, Petronius, around 15 BC and dedicated to Isis, Osiris, as well as two deified sons of a local Nubian chieftain, Pediese ("he whom Isis has given") and Pihor ("he who belongs to Horus"). The temple was commissioned by Emperor Augustus of Rome and has been exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York since 1978.

The Temple of Dendur interior. (8/31/14)

From the Arms and Armor collection. (8/31/14)

From the Arms and Armor collection. (8/31/14)

From the Arms and Armor collection. (8/31/14)

Sallet in the shape of a lion's head.(8/31/14)

The sallet was a war helmet that replaced the bascinet in Italy, western and northern Europe and Hungary during the mid-15th century. In Italy, France and England the armet helmet was also popular, but in Germany the sallet became almost universal.

The eggplant samurai helmet from the Arms and Armor collection.(8/31/14)

The statuary at the entrance to the American Wing. (8/31/14)

Part of The American West in Bronze collection. (8/31/14)

Part of The American West in Bronze collection. (8/31/14)

Part of The American West in Bronze collection. (8/31/14)

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View of NYC across Central Park from the Roof Garden. (8/31/14)

Close-up of Hercules with Beard. (8/31/14)

After a fantastic tour through just a floor-and-a-half of only the Northern half of the building(!), we look forward to returning soon to check out more.