The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York

History of the founding of Met

Looking at this castle-like building in the middle of Central Park, it's hard to believe that the museum was created as a private initiative. Yet, it was: in 1870, a community of businessmen, art dealers, and art aficionados (known as The Union League Club of New York) expressed their desire to assemble all their artworks into one grand collection. Today, it's difficult to say whether this was driven by a desire for profit or a love for the arts.

Admission to the museum isn't cheap — $30 for adults, $17 for teens and students, and $17 for seniors over 65 (children under 12 enter free). But the good news is that your ticket is valid for three consecutive days, allowing you ample time to explore everything without feeling rushed. And there's certainly plenty to see.

What's so great about the Metropolitan?

Firstly, the idea. The name "Metropolitan" comes from the word "metropolis": the museum was conceived as a collection of the finest in world art, particularly European. And as odd as "metropolis" may sound in relation to immigrant America, the idea was successfully realized. Today, the museum's collection includes over two million items, making it impossible to display them all at once. However, there is no doubt that it represents the very best. Listing all the famous masters whose works are included would be pointless. Yet, it is here that you can find the largest collections of works by Pablo Picasso, Jan Vermeer, Albrecht Dürer, Goya, and 19th-century French painters, including Renoir.

Secondly, the exhibition space itself is legendary — no other classical museum in the world has thought to arrange it quite like this. Take, for example, the Italian art department. The exhibition space is arranged so that visitors enter not a dull hall crammed with items but a real Italian courtyard. Homes, interiors, and palaces are recreated, within which the art objects — paintings, sculptures, characteristic household items — are displayed. Thus, the Metropolitan gives each visitor a comprehensive spectrum, presenting the culture of a country as closely as possible to the original.

This same format is applied in the two departments of American art, as well as the 'representations' of France, Spain, the Netherlands, England, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Ancient Egypt, and Ancient Greece and Rome. There are also departments dedicated to specific items: arms and armor, musical instruments, drawings and lithographs, photography, and religious objects.

What else is interesting?

In addition to its exhibition resources, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has specialized departments, such as the Costume Institute. It became part of the museum in 1937, having previously existed as a separate museum under the leadership of Aileen Bernstein.

The regular exhibition features over 35,000 costume items from various peoples and epochs. It includes absolutely all the well-known designers, fashion houses, and style icons. However, the department is not only famous for this.

The Met Gala Charity Ball

Every year, the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts the MET Gala, a charity ball. The essence of the event is that prominent influential personalities, under the supervision of fashion houses, present thematic outfits. In 2018, the theme was religion — guest stars showcased outfits that reflected the influence of cults on art and the perception of beauty.

Each ticket to this event costs around $6,500, with all proceeds going to support art and children's creativity, as well as the maintenance of the museum.

Beauty and truth will live forever as long as there are worthy guardians for them. And it is hard to find a more devoted guardian than the Met Museum, which is visited by over 6 million people annually. This surely speaks volumes.