Spring Break
Reaping the Fruits of His Labor
Alisa Ungar-Sargon
Issue date: 11/25/09 Section: Arts and Culture
The S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program arranged for a trip to The Morgan Library and Museum this month as part of this semester's cultural events series. Located at 36th Street and Madison Avenue, the library has been a main staple of the neighborhood since it was Pierpont Morgan's private residence and library at the turn of the 20th century.
The hour-long tour was a fact-filled summary of Morgan's life accompanying a breathtaking display of a true art collector's passion. In addition to the thousands of books and manuscripts being conserved, the building itself is a work of art, contrary to its discrediting exterior. Technique and materials were transported liberally from Europe and Africa to adorn the entrance hall, international library (three stories high, complete with secret staircases behind the bookshelves), and personal studies. The artwork is detailed to the utmost degree, consisting of homage to late greats and a cheeky sort of cheating blended in with it. Zodiac ceiling paintings, choir books visible from across the room, and an enormous tapestry mark the main library room.
The Morgan creates an interesting contrast between the dark rooms of preservation and its main atrium, which leads off into other aspects of the museum. The rather modern, light-filled entrance is made essentially of glass and wood floors, making the transition a bit jarring from the rooms of yore. As the tour guide put it, the enclosure forms a piazza of three buildings formerly divided: the Annex, the library, and Morgan's residential brownstone. The resulting structure is what actually transforms the buildings from a man's private opulence into an intimate public forum for culture, art, and local history.
The exhibits at the Morgan are mainly comprised from the museum's own collection, with additional material brought in to enhance them. The current exhibitions on display focus on Jane Austen (until March 2010), William Blake (until January 2010), and the Rococo movement (until January 2010). There is also an arrangement of original mementos, sheets, and playbills of Giacomo Puccini's operas in honor of his 150th birthday.
Admission to the museum is free on Friday nights from 7-9 pm. As several of the students pointed out, it could make for a pleasant trip after oneg (Shabbat evening Kumbaya).
The hour-long tour was a fact-filled summary of Morgan's life accompanying a breathtaking display of a true art collector's passion. In addition to the thousands of books and manuscripts being conserved, the building itself is a work of art, contrary to its discrediting exterior. Technique and materials were transported liberally from Europe and Africa to adorn the entrance hall, international library (three stories high, complete with secret staircases behind the bookshelves), and personal studies. The artwork is detailed to the utmost degree, consisting of homage to late greats and a cheeky sort of cheating blended in with it. Zodiac ceiling paintings, choir books visible from across the room, and an enormous tapestry mark the main library room.
The Morgan creates an interesting contrast between the dark rooms of preservation and its main atrium, which leads off into other aspects of the museum. The rather modern, light-filled entrance is made essentially of glass and wood floors, making the transition a bit jarring from the rooms of yore. As the tour guide put it, the enclosure forms a piazza of three buildings formerly divided: the Annex, the library, and Morgan's residential brownstone. The resulting structure is what actually transforms the buildings from a man's private opulence into an intimate public forum for culture, art, and local history.
The exhibits at the Morgan are mainly comprised from the museum's own collection, with additional material brought in to enhance them. The current exhibitions on display focus on Jane Austen (until March 2010), William Blake (until January 2010), and the Rococo movement (until January 2010). There is also an arrangement of original mementos, sheets, and playbills of Giacomo Puccini's operas in honor of his 150th birthday.
Admission to the museum is free on Friday nights from 7-9 pm. As several of the students pointed out, it could make for a pleasant trip after oneg (Shabbat evening Kumbaya).
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