THE MAGNIFICENCE OF THE MET DURING THE HOLIDAYS
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine NolanNew York City is the place to be this time of year as department store windows grab us with animation and intrigue but one of the attractions not to be missed is the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Its stately exterior can sometimes be intimidating but with so much history, art and culture within its walls, you become hypnotized by its grandness.
A yuletide tradition on display right now through January 6, 2013 is The Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Creche in The Medieval Sculpture Hall. As you gaze up at this brightly lit 20-foot blue spruce, you will be overcome by its 18th-century Neapolitan angels and cherubs and looking down you will be blessed by realistic creche figures flanking the Nativity scene at its base.
Getting you even more in the holiday spirit, the scene is set in front of the 18th-century Spanish choir screen from the Cathedral of Valladolid and recorded Christmas music plays in the background. The daily lighting ceremonies are a real treat and an extra added bonus for sure.
This long-standing ritual is made possible by gifts to The Christmas Tree Fund and The Loretta Hines Howard Fund. Believe it or not, this annual exhibit dates back to 1957 and ushers in the holidays with a passion.
The beauty of the tree has a dreamlike quality as it is adorned with cherubs and close to 50 gracefully suspended angels. Dating back in time there is a combination of The Nativity along with shepherds and their flocks, the procession of the three Magi and their exotically dressed retinue of Asians and Africans and a crowd of the most colorful townspeople and peasants with mystical facial expressions.
Naples is kept alive as you witness ruins of a Roman temple, several quaint houses and a most authentic Italian fountain with a lion’s-mask waterspout. The figures associated with the collection are from 6 to 20 inches in height. They are made of tow and wire and their heads and shoulders are modeled in terra-cotta and polychromed to perfection. Costumes are enriched with jewels and embroideries along with elaborate accessories such as precious metals in the form of gilded censers, scimitars, daggers and silver filigree baskets. Each year new figures are added to the collection.
You can get more information on hours of the lighting ceremonies, instructions on picking up the audio guides and prices and hours at www.metmuseum.org/tickets or by calling the Department of Concerts and Lectures at (212) 570-3949. To complete the exhibition, there will be concerts performed by Chanticleer, The Choir of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, JACK Quartet, Christopher Taylor, Alla Francesca, The Vienna Boys Choir and The Crossing and they take place in front of the tree.
The Met is a huge museum and the holidays will surround you with magic as you make your way to The Cloisters Museum and Gardens for a glance at the wreaths and garlands that deck the halls. They are all handmade from plants linked with the celebration of Christmastide in the Middle Ages.
Make your way through flowers, fruits, nuts and evergreens. You will walk through amazing arches of ivy, apples, hazelnuts and rosehips. The iron candelabras in the galleries are festively dressed in greens and roses. The Saint-Guilhem and Cuxa Cloisters are filled with an extensive collection of evergreen topiary along with displays of rosemary, cyclamen, citrus and other potted plants of the season.
At this time, the Metropolitan Museum also gives us a special exhibition telling the story of ‘How African Artifacts Were First Recognized as Art in the U.S.’ and this will begin on November 27, 2012 and stretch through April 14, 2013. Also on display in December through March 17, 2013 is ‘Matisse: In Search of True Painting – An Exploration of Matisse’s Painting Process’.
The crowds of tourists and New York residents will flock to this most regal attraction in December for an uplifting way to spend the holidays.
PHOTO CREDITS: Yahoo Images
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