TDudette

We are lucky to have many free museums in Washington, D.C. If you google any, you also see how much the community can be involved.

A local artist/teacher organized this bus trip to D.C. First stop was the National Gallery of Art ("NG") to visit "Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting". Genre Painting refers to depictions of everyday life. Vermeer works were side by side with those of Jan Steen, ter Borch and other Dutch painters of the time. Very interesting. If you haven't seen the movie, Tim's Vermeer, try to see it for an interesting look at camera obscura.

We had plenty of time to visit other rooms. Sargents are at the NG! I spent more time in the room with his works. His were paired with some of Whistler (who paled in comparison although I love his seascapes).

There are 3 places to eat at NG: Garden Cafe on the ground level of the West Building is the most expensive--they wanted $30 for the plat; Cascade Cafe in the underground way to the East Building,is a cafeteria--still not a bargain but less expensive; the 3rd option is in the Terrace Cafe in the upper level of the East Building--it sells only pre-packaged foods. A really good tuna salad with sliced cucumber sandwich, glass of wine, coffee and a cookie was just about as expensive as the Garden Cafe!

Bus then drove us to the Phillips where we saw "Renoir and Friends". The "Boating Party" lives here permanently and was purchased by Mr. Phillips for around $100,000. Boating guide shows the actual names of Renoir's friends and colleagues who were in the painting...especially Caillebotte. Other artists and supporters of Renoir were also included in this exhibit.

Special compliments on Phillips' free telephone dial-in captions. You simply call a number on your cell phone then type 1#, 2#, etc. and the stops are narrated. I got cut off once.

Fees:

NG is free (just the food is expensive!). Excellent gifts shops.

Phillips: Has some free days for the permanent collection; $10-12 for special exhibits and weekends; discounts for seniors and little "guys". Please check ahead to confirm this. They have a cafe, an outdoor space, and a nice gift shop.

FYIW, the Phillips had a fun competition some years ago. Public was invited to take a modern photo of the same subject as a painting. Look for Donna Rhody on this link: https://www.washingtonian.com/2012/0...t-competition/

emalloy

Sounds like a nice trip. I just finished reading the novel "The Girl with the Perl Earring" which is about the girl in Vermeer's painting. Maybe justification for a road trip.

annhig

Nice TR and nice photo, TD - though I was glad that your name is to the top of the alphabet.

Apart from Capitol Hill, I have zilch ideas about what there is to see in DC.

SAB

We saw the Vermeer Exhibition in Paris--it was a mob scene, but at least I got to see the Milkmaid and the Lacemaker side by side, as well as the Geographer and the Astronomer side by side. I don't think the Milkmaid made the trip to the NG. How crowded was the NG?

kja

I agree that both exhibitions are well worth visiting, and the Renoir exhibit at the Phillips included some fascinating information on the ways in which he changed the Boating Party while in process.

Birdie

A friend and I were talking last night about going up for those two exhibits. Thank you for the report, TDudette.

annhig, there is so much more to D.C. than Capitol Hill. There are countless museums, gorgeous neighborhoods, historical houses, lovely parks, etc etc. I can spend days in DC and not go near Capitol Hill.

emalloy, there's also a film of The Girl with the Pearl Earring starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. It's not a great film but the cinematography is pretty.

TDudette

Thanks, All.

SAB, early on a Thursday, no line. When I passed by after lunch, there was a line.

What, Birdie wrote! Same with nearby Annapolis and Baltimore.

annhig

thanks Birdie. it's just not somewhere that it ever occurred to me that I would want to visit. but who knows what I may decide to do in the future, now it's just me to consider.