The drawing room at the MET
Ninja December 1st, 2008
The MET museum has approximately 20,000 original drawings tucked away in a storage room on the second floor. To view them, all you have to do is call 212-570-3912 for an appointment. The study rooms are open Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 AM–12:30 PM, 2:00-4:45 PM. It’s also helpful to have a list of whom you’d like to see. If you can’t decide on an artist, they have a massive card catalog for you to browse through.
Upon arrival, security will issue you a pass and provide you with a map to the drawing study rooms. You will not need to purchase a ticket for admission. However, you will need to check your coat and bag before entering the drawing study room.
The first drawing we saw was Michelangelo’s Studies for the Libyan Sibyl. The Sibyl is sandwiched between 2 sheets of glass. It’s actually a lot smaller than I expected—only 11 3/8 inches x 8 7/16 inches. Also, the red chalk is much brighter in person.
Penguin whispered that he loved the dramatically twisted pose and careful attention paid to the weight-bearing toe of this male figure. The anatomical study was drawn from a male model, and Michelangelo translated and softened these features into the female Libyan Sibyl frescoed on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (see image below). Her prophecy proclaimed the virgin birth of a king.
On the reverse side of this drawing, Michelangelo started another study in black chalk, focusing on the legs for the Sibyl.
Our private viewing also included da Vinci’s Head of the Virgin. This image really doesn’t capture how well that cheek is rendered. For her cheek, he uses a gentle hand to acheive very soft, subtle modeling.
There’s a noticeable splatter of charcoal dust near her eye.
While there, we also saw drawings from Dürer, Hoffman, Ingres, and Seurat. Afterwards we checked out the Philippe de Montebello exhibition. Highlights include:
Marilyn Monroe, May 6, 1957
by Richard Avedon
Gelatin silver print
Close up of paintbrush hair in No. 13 (White, Red, on Yellow)
by Mark Rothko
Oil and acrylic with powdered pigments on canvas
Incidentally, if you get too close, you will trigger a heat-sensor alarm.
Bird in Space
Constantin Brancusi
Marble
