Botticelli in Boston

The MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) in Boston is hosting, "the largest and most important display of Botticelli’s works in the United States." (from the MFA website)  Apparently there hasn't really been a major exhibit of Botticelli's work in the USA.  I've been lucky enough to visit the exhibit twice -- once wandering by myself and once on a curatorial tour.

I'm not usually a huge fan of religious art, but I found this exhibit fascinating. The signage is excellent.  In fact, one of the things that the curator told us is that the MFA has recently acquired the technology to cut the vinyl for the signs in house rather than sending it out.  This has created more flexibility.  As much as they plot out the exhibit, there are always "game time" decisions once everything is actually in the space.  Cutting the vinyl in house means that the signage can reflect those last minute decisions. 

Take a peek at the exhibit:

Have you seen the instagram account artgarments?  If you like these kind of close up photos of clothes in paintings, you'll love that account!

The work above is a fresco.  I never knew the technicalities of how frescos were made, but the curator shared that info with us.  They are painted in very small sections -- just what the artist can accomplish in a day. The paint and the plaster chemically combine into a very permanent surface as they dry.  This is why so many frescos have lasted outside for so long.  

I think the Botticelli exhibit is worth a visit.  The works were collected from all over the world and some of them specifically only lent to the Museum of Fine Arts, so it's unlikely you'll see a collection of Botticelli's like this one anytime soon.

Hope you enjoyed this trip to the museum!  Thanks for stopping by!