In Pursuit of a Masterpiece

Of course, the MIA is filled with outstanding artworks. But which ones do museum curators hold out as the best of their kind, and why? Inspired by "The Louvre and the Masterpiece," MIA curators have cherry-picked works from the museum's collection that illuminate specific aspects of connoisseurship. A surprising selection of objects highlights the ever-changing notions of excellence, value, craftsmanship, rarity, and beauty. Side-by-side comparisons and engaging back stories make this exhibition a must-see for art lovers.

In Pursuit of a Masterpiece
October 18, 2009-April 11, 2010
Minneapolis Institute of Arts

http://www.artsmia.org/index.php?section_id=2&exh_id=3467

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• minneapolis
• institute
• of
• arts
• exhibition
• masterpiece
• art
• museum
• collection

[cuajleegyang]

I believe a Masterpiece is something created with attention to detail and innovation. One piece in particular was Leonardo Da Vinci's sketch of a cloth draped chair. In this piece he had a wide range of shading and value changes using only limited media. This piece is innovative because he did not sketch from observing, but he sketched it from memory. So in short, a masterpiece is something created with fine details and created with a new and bold thought.

[eyeoftheliger]

I think that a masterpiece is something that has a lot of thought and effort behind it before the piece is even started. An example of this is the Lion and the Serpent. The artist studied the anatomy of the lion body before he made the piece, and in turn the sculpture is unbelievably realistic.

-EB

[roochellama]

In viewing the exhibits, I felt that the pieces in the Louvre Exhibit felt much more like masterpieces. The presentation, the atmosphere and the history make you feel as though these pieces really show these characteristics. I think some of the pieces in the MIA exhibit did feel like masterpieces but not to the same caliber as the MIA.

Angela

[ozz008]

Osbaldo C.

[ozz008]

A masterpiece is something you can tell the artist achieved artistic perfection, that it is life like and that it breaks boundaries but not rules.

[Marieeeeah]

The Louvre exhibit at the MIA contained many pieces that I would consider masterpieces. One in particular was "The Lion and the Serpent". You could tell from the detail that the artist really put in a lot of time and effort into it.

-Marie S.

[Camper1234599]

Pandemonium in the Louvre exhibit is simply exquisite in person, beware, even though you can take pictures in the Louvre, MIA does not allow it.

-Erik B.