Museums and Mausoleums have a lot in common. Both are shrines dedicated to the past, one for the people and another of their works. Italy is bursting at the seams with a plethora of rich history and art. In turn, with Museums and Crypts. The preserved and conserved works of artistic geniuses surround beautiful cities like Florence and Rome. A Museum in either of these cities is an experience worth having.
Sometimes, the Carrera marble floors and painted ceilings distract from the beauty of the painting centered on the wall. Sometimes, you find yourself exhausted from a museum in the form of simple eye strain or fatigue from walking. Occasionally, Botticelli fuses with all the other paintings in the room that you forgot that you even saw the Birth of Venus until you see the image all over the gift shops. Constantly, the many throngs of people are a choreograph dance repeated over and over at each famous piece of art.
Step, Step, phone out, click, click.
A frantic movement to step up to the painting snap a picture and walk to the next never gazing at the artist’s brush strokes or finding the small details that make the content unique and life-like. The reality is that the photo snapped by an iPhone is also a google search away if you know the artist name.
While at the Uffizi, this was extremely apparent so much so that a fellow museum-goer by the name of Sophie from California who was traveling aboard for her honeymoon notice as well. The room where two works by Leonard da Vinci are located is filled with people and has seating across from each painting so that you can admire each work. Something that was impossible to do because of the amount of tour group filtering into the small exhibit. Sophie and I spoke about the beauty and the experience of going to a museum. Sophie felt that it was a little absurd to come to the Uffizi to only snap pictures of famous works and not appreciate them in person considering that an admission ticket purchased. Sophie said, “there they go snapping away, don’t they know that the picture is on google.” It was then that this article was born and where the tips found below for novice museum-goers where brainstormed. Sophie put the words quite eloquently when she stated that viewing art only through your camera lens is the same as going to a concert with headphones in your ears. Concerts are for the naked ear and museums for the naked eye.
Whether you are at the Uffizi, Vatican or Capitoline museums, it’s hard to discern the painted ceiling from the marbled patterns on the floor to the beauty of paintings in a gilded frame and marble statues on pedestals.
The question then becomes how do you “museum”?
Understand that Museums are for wanders who seek to absorbed and appreciate the works of exalted masters from times pasted. Museums are also a place of respect and introspective thinking. Museums are like rich chocolatey Nutella gelato where a small portion that leaves you wanting more. Don’t speed through the museum and do take frequent breaks, find a seat, look out a window.
Most importantly leave before you are exhausted.
Listen to the audio, watch the video and grab a map. Usually, every museum has a free map that you can get at the ticket booth, ask for it. Museums also provide audio guides which can be helpful in the endeavor to understanding the art in front of you. Please don’t feel the need to walk through the museum with the device attached to your head and only use it when you don’t understand what you are viewing. The same goes for museum docents who are ripe to answer any questions you might have.
Maneuver around tour groups and find the empty galleries. You should have a map so that you won’t get lost.
In massive museums like the Vatican, there is so much more than the highlighted path to the Sistine Chapel.
Take your time breath and explore. Move around. See the painting from all angles. Renaissance paintings are all about the small details, and Baroque painting are about the shadows and light playing on the canvas. It is better to view the painting like a window where you look and angle yourself to get a better view. Don’t let anyone get between you and the art. In a crowded museum like the Vatican Museum, space is limited by vital establish and protect your space. If you are feeling daring, learn to curl your torso close to the painting while keeping your limbs from setting off the monitor, When the guards turn the corner pretend it's not you. Ringing the alarm is the equivalent to having your phone ring in class embarrassing but not harmful. Please remember never to touch the art.
Once, you have gone to enough museums the experience itself will teach how to venture through exhibit from exhibit learn and absorb each Caravaggio or Raphael. Until then, the only thing museum enthusiasts ask is that you put the camera down, breath in and take in the art. The only wrong way to “Museum” is not to take in and respect the works of geniuses that are still valued today.