Passport to Another World

Shivanna
February 20, 2013

The Leon Levy and Shelby White Court in the Greek and Roman Galleries

«When you enter the Met, you leave the buzzing streets of Manhattan behind and are transported back in time and to foreign places. As an artist, intern, frequent Met visitor, and New Yorker, I can say the Met is my favorite place to "vacation" when I need to get away from the bustling world outside.»

When I visit the Museum simply to draw, areas such as the Greek and Roman Art galleries and the American Wing inspire me. Light streams in through the glass windows, giving the sculptures a range of shadows, values, and lines. You can see and appreciate how the sculptors carved the figures' muscles, the texture of their skin, and the small details that make each figure unique. You’re able to capture the weight and lifelike quality of the objects. The best way to capture the true essence of an object in front of you is to trace your eye along the edge and cuts of the sculpture, taking in every detail.

The sound of the fountains in both the Greek and Roman Art galleries, the bank facade in the American Wing, and the Greek and Roman architecture add to the full experience of being in the galleries. These peaceful spaces transport you back to the time of the great masters.

Left: Marble bust of a man, mid-1st century A.D. Julio-Claudian. Roman. Marble; H. 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1912 (12.233). Right: Shivanna. Roman Head, 2013. Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper

Shivanna undefined

Shivanna is a member of the Museum's Teen Advisory Group.