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The Metropolitan Museum of Art : Guide
Rare book
455 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 27, 2012
Setting a New Standard in Museum Guides...
To those familiar with New York City, that huge museum known as The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a familiar site. Located at 1000 Fifth Avenue, it's most commonly known as "The Met" so please understand that the term isn't one employed lightly throughout this review, but used fondly, as this reviewer has warm childhood memories of visits there in my youth.
From the moment it came out of the box, it was clear that this newly released book, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide, was clearly different from many of the guidebooks and publications that have been published over the last decade or so. To start with, it is heftier than its 6¾ by 9¾ inch size might indicate, as it clearly weighs at least 2½ pounds. The 'Flexibound' cover is matte and fingerprint-resistant, and the binding is better than many of the hardbound books that I've purchased in a number of years.
The front cover is a cropped full color reproduction of Jean-Léon Gérôme's "Bashi-Bazouk," as can be found on exhibit in the The Met's extensive European Paintings collection, and within the first pages we find some beautifully reproduced full-page photos of some of the best works that can be found in the Museum, followed by the Table of Contents. This is followed by a foreword by Museum Director Thomas P. Campbell, where he credits a number of staff members including Stephen Schoenfelder, the designer of this new edition. Director Campbell follows with the Introduction, which is really a fascinating history of The Met, from its 1866 beginnings in Paris, of all places, and before it owned a single work. This is tight and concise, but perfectly illustrated. And there's an unusual note to the reader, commenting on certain anomalies that may be found in this book in comparison to what is found in the museum... interesting, yet taking away nothing from the book itself.
The book is broken down in sections like a museum visit:
Ancient World
• Ancient Near Eastern Art
• Egyptian Art
• Greek and Roman Art
Across Cultures
• Asian Art
• Islamic Art
• Arts of Africa, Oceana, and the Americas
• Arms and Armor
• Musical Instruments
Europe
• Medieval Art
• The Cloisters
• Drawings and Prints
• European Paintings
• European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
• Robert Lehman Collection
United States
• The American Wing
Modern Era
• The Costume Institute
• Modern and Contemporary Art
• Photographs
All of this is followed by the Index of Works, and that is very well done, with the names of the work of are italicized, as they should be. It's a complete index, and cross-referenced as one might hope in such a work.
This is the first completely new edition in almost 30 years, and it has a far more attractive design than the old one, an edition that I gave away a few years ago. It had constricted dimensions and pages with inconsistent reproductions, and the descriptive text was fairly good, but there was the overall feeling of a mail order catalog that prevailed. This new edition is not just a makeover; it's a complete restructuring with interesting facts, commentary and superb reproductions in keeping with what is one of the world's largest and considered to be one of the finest museums in the world.
One could go on about all of the works of art found within the pages here, but that would be spoiling the joy and surprises in store for the reader once the cover is opened. It's also easy to pick apart the omission of certain personal favorites, but considering that the editors had to select 600 of The Met's nearly two million works, then provide both images and brief descriptions into 449 pages and not make them look jammed in there is a marvel in itself.
It's not just the content that is impressive with this new edition, either. The printing itself is clean and sharp, and the Centaur and Chaparral typefaces make this guide a pleasure to read. It's printed on 130 gm HannoArt Silk, a premium wood-free paper made from pulp bleached without the use of chlorine, which means that it's made to last. Professional Graphics Inc. in Illinois did a skillful job with the color separations, and the printing and binding were expertly done in Italy.
Art lovers of all types who have never visited The Met will stand to profit from this book in terms that it's a great resource and reference to so many of the most important works of art in the world. Teachers would find it a good reference for the same reasons. And first time visitors who are so often disconcerted by the size and scope of the place will find this to be a way to get a pretty good overview prior to a visit.
As a member and frequent visitor to The Met, this reader and reviewer can only say that this new edition is welcome, and will be in my own courier bag during visits, along with my camera. It's a highly recommended guide that will be used for years.
My full review on Amazon.com
To those familiar with New York City, that huge museum known as The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a familiar site. Located at 1000 Fifth Avenue, it's most commonly known as "The Met" so please understand that the term isn't one employed lightly throughout this review, but used fondly, as this reviewer has warm childhood memories of visits there in my youth.
From the moment it came out of the box, it was clear that this newly released book, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide, was clearly different from many of the guidebooks and publications that have been published over the last decade or so. To start with, it is heftier than its 6¾ by 9¾ inch size might indicate, as it clearly weighs at least 2½ pounds. The 'Flexibound' cover is matte and fingerprint-resistant, and the binding is better than many of the hardbound books that I've purchased in a number of years.
The front cover is a cropped full color reproduction of Jean-Léon Gérôme's "Bashi-Bazouk," as can be found on exhibit in the The Met's extensive European Paintings collection, and within the first pages we find some beautifully reproduced full-page photos of some of the best works that can be found in the Museum, followed by the Table of Contents. This is followed by a foreword by Museum Director Thomas P. Campbell, where he credits a number of staff members including Stephen Schoenfelder, the designer of this new edition. Director Campbell follows with the Introduction, which is really a fascinating history of The Met, from its 1866 beginnings in Paris, of all places, and before it owned a single work. This is tight and concise, but perfectly illustrated. And there's an unusual note to the reader, commenting on certain anomalies that may be found in this book in comparison to what is found in the museum... interesting, yet taking away nothing from the book itself.
The book is broken down in sections like a museum visit:
Ancient World
• Ancient Near Eastern Art
• Egyptian Art
• Greek and Roman Art
Across Cultures
• Asian Art
• Islamic Art
• Arts of Africa, Oceana, and the Americas
• Arms and Armor
• Musical Instruments
Europe
• Medieval Art
• The Cloisters
• Drawings and Prints
• European Paintings
• European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
• Robert Lehman Collection
United States
• The American Wing
Modern Era
• The Costume Institute
• Modern and Contemporary Art
• Photographs
All of this is followed by the Index of Works, and that is very well done, with the names of the work of are italicized, as they should be. It's a complete index, and cross-referenced as one might hope in such a work.
This is the first completely new edition in almost 30 years, and it has a far more attractive design than the old one, an edition that I gave away a few years ago. It had constricted dimensions and pages with inconsistent reproductions, and the descriptive text was fairly good, but there was the overall feeling of a mail order catalog that prevailed. This new edition is not just a makeover; it's a complete restructuring with interesting facts, commentary and superb reproductions in keeping with what is one of the world's largest and considered to be one of the finest museums in the world.
One could go on about all of the works of art found within the pages here, but that would be spoiling the joy and surprises in store for the reader once the cover is opened. It's also easy to pick apart the omission of certain personal favorites, but considering that the editors had to select 600 of The Met's nearly two million works, then provide both images and brief descriptions into 449 pages and not make them look jammed in there is a marvel in itself.
It's not just the content that is impressive with this new edition, either. The printing itself is clean and sharp, and the Centaur and Chaparral typefaces make this guide a pleasure to read. It's printed on 130 gm HannoArt Silk, a premium wood-free paper made from pulp bleached without the use of chlorine, which means that it's made to last. Professional Graphics Inc. in Illinois did a skillful job with the color separations, and the printing and binding were expertly done in Italy.
Art lovers of all types who have never visited The Met will stand to profit from this book in terms that it's a great resource and reference to so many of the most important works of art in the world. Teachers would find it a good reference for the same reasons. And first time visitors who are so often disconcerted by the size and scope of the place will find this to be a way to get a pretty good overview prior to a visit.
As a member and frequent visitor to The Met, this reader and reviewer can only say that this new edition is welcome, and will be in my own courier bag during visits, along with my camera. It's a highly recommended guide that will be used for years.
My full review on Amazon.com
October 21, 2015
The Met
Per avere una rappresentazione sintetica di cosa sia il Metropolitan Museum, secondo me basta andare al bookshop e dare un'occhiata allo scaffale che espone la guida al museo.
Ci sono edizioni in non so quante lingue, in ogni caso sicuramente meno di quelle parlate dai milioni di visitatori che arrivano da tutto il mondo per girovagare nel possente palazzotto di Central Park East.
Il volume è pregevole, considerato che si tratta della guida "base". Sapendo quello che so ora, la comprerei prima di andarci, perchè sarebbe veramente utile per orientarmi nel gigantesco dedalo costituito dalle sale del Museo.
Tanto per dare un'idea, e per non farci mancare niente, c'è anche un tempio egizio originale, ricostruito.
Ottimo per feste a tema, la colonna sonora ce l'abbiamo già.
Inutile parlare della collezione d'arte figurativa, ci sono stato sei ore e ho saltato intere ali, da qualche parte ho letto che il Met sarebbe la superficie destinata a museo più grande del mondo.
Se ci andate, non perdetevi la terrazza all'ultimo piano, che offre una vista che non demerita rispetto alla visita.
(ma i panini non sono granchè, io ve lo dico)
http://it.pinterest.com/rosenkavalier...
Per avere una rappresentazione sintetica di cosa sia il Metropolitan Museum, secondo me basta andare al bookshop e dare un'occhiata allo scaffale che espone la guida al museo.
Ci sono edizioni in non so quante lingue, in ogni caso sicuramente meno di quelle parlate dai milioni di visitatori che arrivano da tutto il mondo per girovagare nel possente palazzotto di Central Park East.
Il volume è pregevole, considerato che si tratta della guida "base". Sapendo quello che so ora, la comprerei prima di andarci, perchè sarebbe veramente utile per orientarmi nel gigantesco dedalo costituito dalle sale del Museo.
Tanto per dare un'idea, e per non farci mancare niente, c'è anche un tempio egizio originale, ricostruito.
Ottimo per feste a tema, la colonna sonora ce l'abbiamo già.
Inutile parlare della collezione d'arte figurativa, ci sono stato sei ore e ho saltato intere ali, da qualche parte ho letto che il Met sarebbe la superficie destinata a museo più grande del mondo.
Se ci andate, non perdetevi la terrazza all'ultimo piano, che offre una vista che non demerita rispetto alla visita.
(ma i panini non sono granchè, io ve lo dico)
http://it.pinterest.com/rosenkavalier...
August 17, 2020
Bought this for the Kindle app on iPad.
Highly entertaining and educational. Using the guide on the iPad is fun. Inexpensive alternative to the book. Recommend this for a family or individual planning a visit.
Highly entertaining and educational. Using the guide on the iPad is fun. Inexpensive alternative to the book. Recommend this for a family or individual planning a visit.
August 31, 2024
I wanted to learn more about The Met and its collection and this was a great book to help me do that. I hope to visit someday.
February 7, 2018
A glimpse into some of the beautiful pieces of art the museum keeps. What I love most about this book is the variety of objects displayed here. The only criticism I have is that a book showcasing works of art should be a little bigger, but then this is a guide! Anyway if you love art and especially if you didn't have the pleasure of visiting the actual thing! You will love this book.
March 4, 2017
Good overview of the whole collection at the moment, listing the most significant items. In terms of paintings, very comprehensive, yet still only the key paintings included. If you wish for paintings only, I recommend another specific book.
July 10, 2015
Picked up five new guides at the Met when went to the opening of the John Singer Sargent exhibit on June 30. Haven't really read all in detail cover to cover, but feel as if read enough to count as one book for 2015 Challenge. Will put four on my read-2015 shelf, four will mark only as reference rather than read.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Director's Tour: A Walking Guide by Thomas P. Campbell
European Paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art: A Walking Guide
American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: A Walking Guide
Islamic Art in the Metropolitan Museum of Art: A Walking Guide
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide by Thomas P. Campbell
This one, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide, updates and expands guides I already own. Look forward to using it, along with the Walking Tour Guides and other art books in my collection. More comprehensive and reflecting additions to the museum collections, the Art Guide has become too large to carry comfortably when gallery browsing.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Director's Tour: A Walking Guide by Thomas P. Campbell
European Paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art: A Walking Guide
American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: A Walking Guide
Islamic Art in the Metropolitan Museum of Art: A Walking Guide
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide by Thomas P. Campbell
This one, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide, updates and expands guides I already own. Look forward to using it, along with the Walking Tour Guides and other art books in my collection. More comprehensive and reflecting additions to the museum collections, the Art Guide has become too large to carry comfortably when gallery browsing.
Want to Read
February 7, 2017is still sealed in the wrapping in which it was bought----we purchased on trip to NYC in Yr 2012
Want to Read
December 20, 2015#
NC
Own in paperback.
FS: "Before the Metropolitan Museum of Art owned a single work, it was an idea."
LS: "The artist's first and only video, Phat Free, begins with the very loud and prolonged sound of what seems like furious drumming on trash cans; when revealed, the mysterious figure "kicking the bucket" along the Bowery at the night becomes an alternately menacing and exhilarating wake-up call."
NC
Own in paperback.
FS: "Before the Metropolitan Museum of Art owned a single work, it was an idea."
LS: "The artist's first and only video, Phat Free, begins with the very loud and prolonged sound of what seems like furious drumming on trash cans; when revealed, the mysterious figure "kicking the bucket" along the Bowery at the night becomes an alternately menacing and exhilarating wake-up call."
December 8, 2014
had to have this guide after finally getting to this iconic museum. easy to get lost in there!
March 16, 2016
A great way to know the museum, after or before you visit it. And the greatest way to know more about art, painting, sculpture, architecture.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews