Art Museums!

In response to Jenny Beers's question, "Do you like going to art museums? A lot of people think it is utterly boring, how about you?"...

     I honestly have mixed feelings about art museums. Since I am so interested in archeology I enjoy museums such as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, for it contains a wealth of artifacts as well as a decent sized collection of art as well. In the eighth grade however I did go to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. This museum was truly impressive and even at that age I was able to appreciate the museum's collection. But, I only spent a few hours there and I am unsure if I would be able to stay longer. Unlike many people who visit these museums, I do not spend twenty minutes looking at one painting. I stop and gaze at one that catches my eye for a minute, then move onto the next one. I do not get bored per say, but I definitely have to be in the mood to visit an art museum. Additionally, I believe that half of the draw of such a museum is the amazing architecture, with the sweeping galleries with their high ceilings. As for modern art at museums such as Mass MoCA, well, I have already blogged about my dislike and misunderstanding of them before.
     I tend to find small art galleries more interesting than huge museums of art, and perhaps this is because it is simply enjoying art in smaller doses. This past summer on the way back from Plum Island Beach my two friends and I stopped to browse through downtown Newburyport, Massachusetts. It is a gorgeous little area, and we walked into a couple of small art galleries there. The art was truly magnificent in this one gallery that sticks out in my memory, and I wish I actually had enough money to buy some of the works there. So, I will say that I sometimes enjoy going to art museums, and while I do not find them immediately boring, after a few hours, I do begin to feel that they are. Have you ever seen a famous painting such as the Mona Lisa in person? What did you think of it? Did it live up to your expectations?