My husband and I adore seeing art where it was made, and I'd love recommendations for where we can see more. For example, frescos, alterpieces, or tapestries. We love to visit cathedrals and monastaries, too. We are always on a budget and travel off season, but we are wide open to location and I'd be pleased to hear recommnedations for well known as well as completely obscure places. Send us on a pilgramage!
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2760 posts
Venice has some of the best in situ art. Check out RS guide books for more info.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Few works of art are more "in situ" than frescos and for frescos you can't go wrong in Italy, it's a treasure of frescos in duomos (throughout Italy), chapels (Sistine Chapel), and monk's cafeterias (Last Supper). Rick's book "Europe 101" gives a broad overview and other more in-depth art books will give you lots of leads.
Posted by
OP
Chicago, IL, USA
435 posts
Well, I guess I'll need to go back to Italy. Darn! Just kidding, we'd be thrilled to visit these places. Thanks for the suggestions and keep them coming.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
The churches in Brugge overflow with art, including a Michaelangelo statue. Antwerpen's main cathedral contains so much art by Reubens that its one of the few Catholic churches in Europe that charges admission.
Posted by
oregon
131 posts
As an art lover without a doubt the cave art in the Dordogne region of France was akin to a religious experience- I did not go to Lascaux II (although it is supposed to be an incredibly accurate reproduction). The work is incredibly sophisticated (especially the perspective techniques). I also was moved by the tiny chapel in Vence where Matisse donated the stained glass windows, St. Remy where you can actually look out on the views of Van Gogh (Arles, too) and although not "in situ" per se the Fondation Maeght in St. Paul de Vence. Oh- and- the Dali Museum in Figueres, Spain was over the top! WE combined that with staying in Collioure (Impressionists). Bon voyage!
Posted by
OP
Chicago, IL, USA
435 posts
Ah, I hadn't thought of cave paintings. But now that you mention it, it sounds perfect. Thanks for the suggestion.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
Do not forget the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Also I was a little disppointed in the cave art at Font Gaume in Dordogne.
While there was some it was overblown in my opinion, but maybe I went to the wrong one. Peche Merle is also suppose to be nice but I had to choose one last Aug. for my visit.
Posted by
tas
1 posts
Dear Matti,
My husband and I are the same. I am not sure if this is of interest to you however in the south of france in two mediterranean villages (Collioure and Port Vendres) there are two very exicitng art trails where you can follow the trail and view in situ reproductions done at the exact location as they were when first painted/drawn by the artists. The Collioure one is the Fauvism Art Trail (Matisse and Derain) and the next village (10 min by foot) south is Port Vendres and there is an extensive Rennie Charles Macintosh art trail there. We have a cottage in Collioure and there is a lot of info on art on our site - if interested in this sort of 'art' then visit our art page at
http://www.collioure.com.au/art-literature.htm
I hope this helps - enjoy the art travelling.