When the high temperature is predicted to be 25 degrees Fahrenheit, the “feels like” indicator is hovering at 1 degree, snow still covers the ground, and a significant winter storm event is predicted for early in the coming week, options for weekend adventures are few and far between. One always reliable standby, however, is to check out a museum. In this case, to spend several hours at one of the most-visited art museums in the world: The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
With two weeks of my new job successfully completed, a conference attended, and furnishing of my new home well underway, it has been a whirlwind time since I relocated to Massachusetts. I also have spent time catching up with friends and colleagues, and even assisting a friend of mine from Philadelphia in purchasing her first ever car (I offered a little advice as well as some -hopefully- well-timed words of encouragement).
Still, with life seemingly moving a breakneck speed over the past two weeks, I missed being able to take a road trip. So, with Sunday afternoon free, I set off for Boston, to visit the Museum of Fine Arts. Founded in 1870, the MFA was originally located near Copley Square. In 1909, a new building was constructed for the MFA, now located on Huntington Avenue near Northeastern University, not far from Fenway Park. The MFA hosts over 1 million visitors each year, and on Saturday I joined the long list of people who have stepped through the museum’s front door.
Ah, Boston traffic. I had forgotten what I-93 on a Friday afternoon was like.The Zakim Bridge… also with traffic.Congratulations to my friend Emily, who joins the Honda family with this beautiful 2016 Civic EX-T in Aegean Blue Metallic. Happy motoring!DH, parked. Even the short walk to the museum (directly in the background) was brutally cold.The Huntington Avenue entrance to the MFA. This was one of the few shots that was not blurry from me shivering in the cold.The tour began with a visit to a room of historic musical instruments. This is a harpsichord, ancestor of the piano, and instrument of choice of Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.Not just any guitar, this instrument was made in France in the early 19th century to commemorate the transfer of Napoleon’s remains from St. Helena to Paris. An image of the emperor is on the guitar’s headstock.A Chinese lute (left) and Pipa (right).The MFA’s ornate rotunda, which forms the center of the building.A more modern area of the museum which houses the cafe. The large plant on the right is made entirely of glass.African “prestige weapons” which would have been worn to demonstrate the power of a warlord, primarily from Congo and Nigeria.“Zestsu,” a modern art installation from a Japanese artist, created by exposing ceramics to intense heat in the kiln.Ming vases from 15th century China.An “Earth Demon” from the Tang dynasty in 8th century China.A Japanese Shogun’s suit of armor from 18th century Japan. The shogun were military dictators who were the de facto rulers of Japan for almost 800 years.A Japanese sword. If you saw the films Kill Bill 1 & 2, tell me your first thought isn’t “Hattori Hanzo Steel!”The Buddha Room, which replicates a Japanese Buddhist temple. This was constructed in the museum in 1909. The upkeep is phenomenal- it still looks brand new!The William I. Koch gallery of European art.That’s a lot of silver. It is from the royal court of Hanover, Germany from 1747.A Korean artist created these intricate glass ornaments which decorate the rear stairwell of the museum.My mom is a fan of impressionist art. The next few slides are for you, Mom! Pisarro……Monet……and more Monet.The glass exhibit was created by Josiah McIlheny, a Boston artist, who hand-blew each of the glass pieces in this exhibit, and then used a series of mirrors to repeat them to infinity.An Egyptian Offering Chamber, which would have been a place for families to leave gifts for their deceased loved ones, to help them on their journey to the afterlife.Close-up of hieroglyphics in the Offering Chamber.And last, but not least, a real mummy. This is Nesmutaatneru, the wife of a high-ranking priest. This mummy is 2,673 years old. A mummy would be wrapped, and then placed in a series of coffins for burial.Stopping by the front door for a quick photo before heading home.Even on a quiet Sunday afternoon? Boston traffic.And during all of my explorations and trips, I managed to pass this little milestone near Somerville, MA.
The Museum of Fine Arts is a fantastic place to enjoy art and culture year-round in Boston. Open seven days a week, the museum costs $25 for adults, $23 for seniors and students (18+), $10 for students ages 7 – 17 (although free on weekdays after 3:00 pm and on weekends), and children under 6 are free. I hope you have enjoyed this brief tour of the MFA, and I would strongly encourage you to visit there if you are in the Boston metropolitan area!
As an aside, this is also the one-year anniversary of this blog. I appreciate all of the readers who have taken the time to engage with this site, to offer me your thoughts and feedback, and to keep coming back to visit. This blog would not exist without your support and encouragement. Truly… thanks for coming along on another Voyage of DH!
Lots going on here. First of all, congrats to Emily on her Civic and I love the color she selected. That’s some seriously fine art at the MFA! We are having such contrasting temperatures. Yesterday I was in shorts & a T-shirt at a baseball spring training game and we were pushing 90 degrees.
The Open Road Ahead 
I love that hieroglyphics shot!
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Thanks!
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Lots going on here. First of all, congrats to Emily on her Civic and I love the color she selected. That’s some seriously fine art at the MFA! We are having such contrasting temperatures. Yesterday I was in shorts & a T-shirt at a baseball spring training game and we were pushing 90 degrees.
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Glad you enjoyed the artwork! Tomorrow the forecast is for 12-18 inches of snow, so, yeah, seriously contrasting temperatures!!!
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Awesome job as usual 🙂
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Thanks Lynn!!
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