The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, is not a regional art museum. It has a permanent collection of some 35,000 works covering more than 5,000 years of human history. Artists such as Velazquez, Bernini, Ruebens, Cole, Hopper, Matisse, Rothko, Pollock and Warhol are represented. In addition to painting and sculpture, the museum has one of the world's most significant collections of glass work, including works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. In short, this is a world class museum.
Opening in 1933, the museum was originally called the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences. However, in 1971, Walter P. Chrysler (a member of the automotive manufacturing family) offered to give the bulk of his extensive art collection to the museum if it changed its name and built a new wing. The choice of Norfolk as the permanent home for this collection is often attributed to Walter's wife Jean Outland Chrysler who was from Norfolk. She was also involved in the expansion of the museum. Located on a campus by the Ghent section of Norfolk, the Chrysler is close to downtown and not far from Norfolk's immense Navy base. It is within walking distance of Norfolk's cruise terminal. The museum overlooks a body of water known as “The Hague” and is surrounded by greenery. You enter the building through an impressive enclosed courtyard known as Huber Court, which is a venue for concerts and other performances. On this floor are galleries for ancient art, glass, porcelin, and visiting exhibitions. There are also the library, a theater, a learning center and various other amenities for visitors. At the far end of the Huber Court are staircases that take you up to the second floor where most of the permanent collection is located. (The museum also has elevators). The galleries on this floor are spacious, clean, and well-lit with good signage adjacent to the works of art. (The signs are in English). The galleries are arranged chronologically. While there are significant works throughout the collection, the Chrysler starts to come into its own with its large collection of Early American painting. For me, the highpoint came with the galleries containing late 19th century art with works by French artists such as Delacroix, Manet, Monet, Cezanne, Degas, Pissarro, Rodin, Renoir and Signac. There are also works by American expatriates Mary Cassatt and John Singer Sargent as well as by other Americans favorites such as Chase, Homer and Glackens. In addition to its art collection, the museum also operates the Perry Glass Studio and the Moses Myer House, a Federal period brick townhouse that was built in 1792. For more information on visiting, see the Chrysler Art Museum website. |
Above: Just beyond the entrance is a large interior courtyard.
|
|
|
Places to see art - - Norfolk, Virginia - - Chrysler Art Museum