The Metropolitan Museum of Art has drawn art lovers for almost 150 years. The museum offers art education and activities for kids and families, adults, individuals with disabilities, teens, university students and faculty, and educators.
Have you ever visited the Met? If not, do the next best thing by reading on and learning eight fun facts about the legendary art museum.
8 Things You Should Know About the Metropolitan Museum of Art
- The Met’s art collection represents over 5,000 years of artwork from around the world.
- “There are four piles of uncarved stone atop the four columns on the front façade of The Met,” stated The Metropolitan Museum of Art Facts. “These were originally meant to be sculptures but money ran out, and the stone piles remain today. They would have been sculptures representing the Egyptian, Greek, Renaissance, and Modern art eras.”
- The Met was founded in 1870. Upon its establishment, it did not house a single work of art.
- Some of the most famous pieces at the Metropolitan museum include “The Harvesters” by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Portrait of Lukas Spielhausen by Lucas Cranach the Elder, Fragment of a Queen’s Face (ca. 1353–1336 B.C.), “Cypresses” (1889) by Vincent van Gogh, “Woman with a Parrot” (1866) by Gustave Courbet, Mosque lamp (14th century), and “Ugolino and His Sons” (1865–67) by JeanBaptiste Carpeaux.
- The Met has in excess of 2 million works of art in its permanent collections.
- The museum has 17 curatorial departments and 2 million square feet of space.
- The art museum employs a full-time florist. “Each week, Remco van Vliet—a Dutch florist whose father’s flower shop once supplied blooms for the country’s royal family—produces five towering bouquets for the Met’s Great Hall. Van Vliet’s arrangements stretch up to 10 to 12 feet high. Meanwhile, floral works he creates for events held in the museum’s sky-high Egyptian wing can reach up to 20 feet,” stated a contributor to Mental Floss.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses over 5,000 musical instruments, one being the oldest piano in the world, which was crafted in 1720.
There are many more interesting facts about the Metropolitan Museum of art. Peruse the Met’s website to learn more.
Image via Flickr
Current Exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is known for its unique art exhibitions. Current exhibitions include:
- Eugène Delacroix exhibition (through January 6th, 2019)
- Art of Native America exhibition (through October 6th, 2019)
- Dutch Masterpieces at the Met exhibition (through October 4th, 2020)
Check out more of the Met’s art exhibitions here.
Stay Up-to-Date With the Met
Read the Met’s blogs here. Don’t forget to join its millions of followers on Twitter and Facebook.
Have you ever visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art? If so, what was your favorite thing about it? Share with us in the “comments” section below.
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