The Studio

When we left off yesterday I had just heard the Dalai Lama and was headed for the National Gallery of Art for my birthday.  I went directly to the East Building to take a look at the permanent exhibit, Small French Paintings.  I see it every time I go.  It’s fabulous! 

I will be sharing some of the paintings in this exhibit with you over the next few weeks.  Some of my favorite paintings are there.  As a preview you can see the entrance here.

After leaving the French Paintings I wandered upstairs to see the Modern Art.  There was a time that I could care less about it but as I have gotten older (Ha!) I really appreciate Modern more.

I visited Georgia O’Keeffe, Jack in the Pulpit III is shown here.  Also spent some time with Matisse, Picasso, Liechtenstein, and Steichen.  And I’ll share more of that soon with you too!

Leaving Modern I went over to the West Building to take look at the Chester Dale Collection.  I saw it a few weeks ago when my cousin was in town visiting but really wanted to see it again and couldn’t think of anything I would rather do for my birthday than spend it with my favorite paintings!!! 

Chester Dale and his wife Maud were amazing collectors and supporters of the arts and especially emerging artists.  And they left an unbelievably generous donation of art to the NGA.  Their collection is amazing.  If you get a chance to go see it you should. 

This portrait of Chester Dale was painted in 1944 by Rivera  and this one

 of Maud Dale is by Bellows from 1919.   

After spending several hours of enjoying and photographing beautiful art I go back and check out of the hotel and start toward Hillwood, my destination for the afternoon.  I had thought that I might stop at Utrecht Art Supplies on my way but I haven’t driven to the store but once, usually I take Metro so I was pretty sure I couldn’t find it and gave up that idea.  I’m driving along hoping that I am making all the right turns to get to Connecticut Ave to get to Hillwood, I turn a corner on 13th and there is Utrecht Art Supply, and guess what!  There is an open parking space right at the front door.  Are you kidding me?  I had to stop.  So I shopped for art supplies, which I love to do. And then took off for Hillwood.

Hillwood Estate, founded by American collector and heiress to the Post cereal empire Marjorie Merriweather Post, is a Museum & Garden of  one of the premier art collector’s in the United States.  Thanks to my friend Rebecca (whose birthday was yesterday) for telling me about it.  The grounds were amazing and the house fascinating.  Art, china, furniture….everything was perfect.  It was a terrific ending to my day of art.

The kitchen and pantry were crazy….

Again, more to come over the next few weeks.  I took so many photos all day that there is no way I could share them all today.  🙂

I drove home feeling inspired and met Allen for dinner.  I’m sure he got tired of hearing my ramblings about the trip but he paid attention which was so sweet.  Then to top off my birthday of art, he gave me two DVD sets- one about The History of Impressionism and the other a History of European Art.  Talk about the perfect gift.  It’s over 30 hours of fabulous art history.  Love it!!!  I promise to share more of the photos over the next few weeks.  It was such a great birthday I just wanted to share it.