Wadsworth Museum Hartford, CT

Wadsworth Atheneum of Art

April 22, 2007

Deborah R. Pratt

Professor Nevins

While my husband and I were there, we had a nice time. I didn't think he would enjoy it, but I think he enjoyed more than me. I said "ok let's go", and he stated "Let's go over to this side". There were guards every where, not as bad as YCBA, and they were friendly. I entered into a drawing to have a free membership for year, I'm sure my name wasn't picked.

The Wadsworth is the oldest museum since 1842 and is located in Hartford, CT. Daniel Wadsworth (1771-1848) founded the Wadsworth Atheneum, and wanted to share this experience with the public. Unlike today, years ago people did not have access to fine art, except for the rich. Today, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art has beautiful art and exhibits that everyone can benefit from.I didn't like this museum as much as the others. The other museums had more pictures to choose from, and there was a larger selection. However, I saw a few that captured my attention, and I decided to put my concentration on "Judith and Maidservant with the head of Holofernes". c. 1625, oil on canvas.

Orazio Gentileschi, was orignally known as Orazio Lomi, he was born in Pisa. Eventually he settled in Rome in 1576. He comes from a family of artists, and his daughter, Artemesia continued his work. He trained one of his uncles' studios in Rome. Orazio's work does not have the power and uncompromising naturalism of Caravaggio. His work consists of sharp-edged drapery-qualities recalling his Tuscan heritage of superb elegance and draughtsmanship. He worked in Paris and then moved to Rome where he settled. By the end of his career, he no longer used heavy chiaroscuro in favour of light colours. He was very liked by the English court and private collectors for the now much lighter-toned and very enjoyable quality of his canvases. He also painted the ceilings for the Queen's House at Greenwich, now in Marlborough House, London.

The colors are very bold, and they compliment one another. They're looking in opposite directions so no one will catch them. If you notice the lady with the red and gold had Holofernes' head in her lap, and the other looks like she is cradling his head. The background is dark and makes me wonder if they are outside or in a dungeon. The gold skirt looks like linen, and the white scarf and red/gold scarf can pass for silk. The actual story is Holofernes the Assyrian commander forces under King Nebuccanezer, lay seige to the Israelites in the town of Betheseda , Judith a beautiful Jewish widow, gained entry to the Assyrian camp. After a lavish banquet, Judith severed the head of the drunken Holofernes and escaped. when the Assyrians discovered the body of their leader, they fled before the attack of the Israelites.

There was another one that caught my attention and it was "The Raising of Lazarus" by Benjamin West. This is the second painting I enjoyed and wrote about. Restored to Life. "One of the largest paintings in the Atheneum's collection, Benjamin West's The Raising of Lazarus was originally commissioned as an altarpiece for England's Winchester Cathedral and completed in 1780. It was presented to the Atheneum in 1900 by J. Pierpont Morgan. After fifty years on display, the varnish and canvas had deteriorated to such an extent that it had to be relegated to storage. Generous grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and from the Conservation Fellows—a recently established group that supports specific conservation projects—ensured that this important work by Benjamin West could be returned to its original splendor. The exhibition will document the anatomy of this complex restoration, and will present the painting in its new frame, an acquisition made possible through a generous donation from The Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation, Inc. Benjamin West, The Raising of Lazarus, 1780. Oil on canvas. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.3. "

It didn't take us long to get there, and it was right off of exit 29A (91 South). Below are more pictures that were taken.