Lucky for us, we have two great art museums in the area, both located in Baltimore and free to visit. The Baltimore Museum of Art and The Walters Art Museum are each home to pieces done by some of the greatest artists the world has ever seen. The Baltimore Museum of Art has more modern art, mostly from the 19th century and ranging to contemporary art. The Walters Art Museum is mainly pre-1900 art, with pieces dating back to the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
I spoke with Stuart Kaufman (no relation) from The Walters Art Museum, who is an art major and a volunteer at the museum with visitor information. The museum has something to offer everyone. Mr. Kaufman said that the best times to visit were during the week, preferably early in the day, to beat the crowds. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. The Renaissance and Baroque exhibit is very popular, though you won't find anything by Michelangelo or Caravaggio. Mr. Kaufman said that the exhibit had been set up to mimic how the paintings would have been displayed in the time they were created.
There is an indoor conservation window, which allows visitors to view museum workers bringing in new pieces, as well as cleaning and restoring older pieces. There is even an exhibit that shows the layout and construction of an ancient Egyptian tomb. Mr. Kaufman said that the most popular exhibit was the 19th century art gallery, "because it is the largest and most diverse gallery in the museum, and features work by extremely famous artists like Monet and Manet." The museum will soon be receiving a piece by Herman Maril, a modern artist who was from Baltimore, which Mr. Kaufman said that, "they were really excited about."
If you have any interest in art, these museums are a must-see. Even if you are not an art buff, you would be foolish to not take the opportunity to see masterpieces of art in person. I mean, if the pyramids were only a half-hour drive away, wouldn't you go see them?
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