Museum of Fine Arts

I went to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) on Thurs 21 September. The MFA was holding a special exhibition, "Americans in Paris" which showcased the work of a group of American painters such as John Singer Sargent, James McNeil Whistler (of Whistler's Mother fame) etc. It was a bit of a rush because I didn't realise that the exhibition would be ending on 24 Sep (when I would be in Vermont). So I rushed over after my ethics class and rushed back before the afternoon class.

Unfortunately the ticket counter did not accept my Harvard card because it is a staff not student card (it is one of the peculiarities of our stay here) and so I only got a student discount of $2.

The exhibition itself was good. It did not just present the artworks but also gave a sense of the life of the artists in Paris and of their subjects. The painters were very much influenced by the work of the Impressionists (in particular Monet) and also by the life of the Parisians. Some of them lacked commissions and so ended up painting each other - as Bohemians, or as "flaneurs" which are these young men about town types (sort of French Bertie Woosters, I imagine). Better known ones (such as Sargent) got commissions from Americans in Paris.

One of the "big" paintings of the exhibition was "Madame X" by Sargent. I was pretty pleased to see this one because I was looking for it at the Metropolitan Museum in NY and it was not there! Apparently there is a scandalous story associated with the portrait. The sitter, Madame Pierre Gautreau, was originally portrayed with the strap of her dress falling down her shoulder. However, the Paris Establishment thought it was shocking (even though L'Art du Nu was still very much on display at the time) and Sargent's reputation as a portraitist suffered. Mdme Gautreau was actually an American and so the story is that the Parisians were attacking the painting because they didn't like this American out-Frenching the French.

Leaving the exhibition, I took a peek at the MFA main collections - specifically the Impressionists! I must say that the collection displayed was quite small but pretty select. There was one Renoir of a couple dancing - "Dance at Bougival" and a few Monets (including some waterlillies, and a portrait of his wife dressed in a kimono).

Anyway, the exhibition ticket does allow me free re-entry within 10 days but to be honest, not sure whether I want to trek all the way back so soon. It is quite a long journey from Cambridge. Partly, because I have to take the Green Line train - this is a short little train with only two carriages and which are few and far apart so the train gets crowded quickly. The Museum is also free Wednesdays after 4pm so there is really no need to rush down. Essentially, would like to see more of the American painters and the US is the best place to see them. (Just like France is the best place to see French painters and the Tate is the best for Turners!).