Public Parks, Private Gardens: Paris to Provence…Opening Today

Yesterday was a picture perfect winter day.

The sky was a cloudless, vivid blue with temperatures in the 40’s.

We headed out early despite springing forward.

Destination, the members preview day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

We side stepped the filming on the steps of the Met and were the first people inside the stately building.

David and I made a beeline to the rear of the museum, down a set of stairs to one of my favorite exhibit areas in the Met.

Public Parks, Private Gardens: Paris to Provence specifically highlights french gardens and parks in the 19th century, drawing heavily on the Met’s extensive collection.

Impressionist treasures.

The important role of parks and gardens in French life during this period is richly illustrated by paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, illustrated books, and objects in The Met collection and supplemented from private collections.

The exhibit features 150 works by more than 70 artists, spanning the late 18th through early 20th century.

Many of the artists were avid gardeners.

The exhibit is a very manageable size and there is a lovely plant filled courtyard where the public can relax, enabling viewers to regain their museum legs, enjoying the welcoming green park benches with the fountain gurgling in the background.

We started off to the left which showcased women in Parisienne gardens and parks.

The next section presented leisure outdoor settings.

Onto a lovely array of flowers.

The last section highlights park life.

I admired the Renoir watercolor and the Van Gogh reed pen and ink on paper.

This is such a lovely, colorful and soothing show.

It is a must see.

You will be moved and impressed.

Public Parks, Private Gardens: Paris to Provence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 5th Avenue New York City. Exhibit opens March 12th, 2018 through July 29th, 2018. The Metropolitan Museum is open daily.