Anonymous (French, 16th century). Interior with a Man Writing on a Long Table (detail), 16th century. Pen and brown ink, brush and gray and brown wash, over faint sketch in graphite, 19.2 x 14.9 cm. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Bequest of Walter C. Baker, 1971 (1972.118.214)
«Throughout October and November, a number of the Museum's curators will take the stage in the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium for talks that dish valuable insight on current exhibitions as well as on treasures in The Met collection. Over the past few seasons, the talk series hosted by curators have become some of the bestselling MetSpeaks offerings. Not only are their passion and scholarship contagious, but audiences also get a rare peek into the finer details of an artist and their artwork.»
For additional curatorial observations, energy, and expertise, The Met's Blogs platform has also become a powerful outlet for curators to express the nuances of an exhibition's theme, highlight a new acquisition, or present first-person journals of their research process, travels, and behind-the-scenes efforts. The blogs also provide an opportunity to hear from them outside of the academic tone of formal catalogues and essays.
Looking ahead to the incredible lineup of talks over the next two months, I decided to revisit some of the entertaining (as well as highly informative) posts written by our curators over the years. There are so many brilliant posts across the 10 different publications that we hope you fall deeply into this rich content and get to know our esteemed curators in a new way.
Stephanie Herdrich, Assistant Research Curator, The American Wing
Thomas Eakins (American, 1844–1916). The Dancing Lesson (Negro Boy Dancing) (detail), 1878. Watercolor on off-white wove paper, 18 1/16 x 22 9/16 in. (45.9 x 57.3 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Fletcher Fund, 1925 (25.97.1)
In Person: Performance and Expression: Masters of American Watercolor
During her talk, part of the Rediscovering America: The Expanding Horizons of The Met's American Wing Series, Stephanie Herdrich will highlight familiar masterpieces and new acquisitions from the Museum's outstanding collection of American watercolors and drawings.
On the Blogs: "From the Archives: How Madame X Came to The Met"
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Met's acquisition of John Singer Sargent's scandalous Madame X, Stephanie revisited the correspondence between Sargent and then-Museum Director Ned Robinson.
Keith Christiansen, John Pope-Hennessy Chairman, Department of European Paintings
Valentin de Boulogne (French, 1591-1632). A Musical Party (detail), ca.1626. Oil on canvas, 53 x 67 x 4 in. (134.62 x 170.18 x 10.16 cm). Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Gift of The Ahmanson Foundation (AC1998.58.1)
In Person: Valentin de Boulogne Series
Throughout two morning talks, the hugely charismatic Keith Christiansen will look at how Valentin de Boulogne explored new ways of engaging the viewer while also conveying his own melancholic response to the human condition.
On the Blogs: "Note to Self: Valentin Is in the Details"
As part of his ongoing series on Now at The Met promoting Valentin de Boulogne: Beyond Caravaggio, Keith highlighted some of the faces, gestures, and scenes that make him fall in love with the work of this artist time and again.
Kathryn Calley Galitz, Art Historian and Associate Museum Educator, Education Department
Paul Signac (French, 1863–1935). Evening Calm, Concarneau, Opus 220 (Allegro Maestoso) (detail), 1891. Oil on canvas, 25 1/2 x 32 in. (64.8 x 81.3 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Robert Lehman Collection, 1975 (1975.1.209)
In Person: The Post-Impressionists Series
Over the course of five talks, Kathryn Calley Galitz will focus on the work of the Post-Impressionist artists who signaled new directions in art and laid the foundation for the radical innovations that emerged soon after 1900.
On the Blogs: "Rule, Britannia: A Preview"
In this MetLiveArts Blog post, Kathryn discussed some of the themes she explored in her 2015 series of talks, Rule, Britannia! British Painting from Hogarth to the Pre-Raphaelites.
Kurt Behrendt, Associate Curator, Department of Asian Art
Head of Buddha (detail), 5th–6th century. Afghanistan (probably Hadda). Stucco with traces of paint, H. 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1930 (30.32.5)
In Person: Gandhara: Buddhism and Trade Series
Join Kurt Behrendt to travel to the Himalayas during a fascinating point in time in this series of three talks in which he will explore a vibrant and truly cross-cultural body of Buddhist sculpture.
On the Blogs: "A First Look at Sacred Traditions of the Himalayas"
In this 2014 post, Kurt introduced the exhibition Sacred Traditions of the Himalayas, which examined the widespread production of portable works of art that either traveled with Buddhist monks and teachers or were presented as offerings at temples and pilgrimage sites.
Femke Speelberg, Associate Curator, Department of Drawings and Prints
In Person: Pleasure & Paper: A History of the Graphic in the Graphic Arts
In this talk, part of the Daytime Eros Series, Femke Speelberg will look at the ways in which prints and drawings allow for an intimate viewing experience, and how their ephemeral nature also makes them easy to distribute, buy, and hide or discard when in fear of discovery.
On the Blogs: "Erté Is in Town! Designs for Delman's Shoes Now on View"
In a 2015 Now at The Met post, Femke surveyed a number of fashion and theatrical designs by Romain de Tirtoff—better known as Erté—now in The Met collection.
To purchase tickets to any MetLiveArts event, visit www.metmuseum.org/tickets; call 212-570-3949; or stop by the Great Hall Box Office, open Monday–Saturday, 10:30 am–3:30 pm.