Art Expeditions is kicking off January 2024 with a virtual visit to The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts…

Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia’s Museum District, The VMFA is one of the premier art museums in the United States. With over 40,000 artworks spanning over 6000 years of art history, a visit to VMFA is truly an expedition into art adventure. It was easy to imagine myself traveling back to ancient Rome and Greece as I meandered the exhibit halls featured 2000 year old Roman coins and Grecian urns…

Or you can travel to the Italian Renaissance with masterworks by the likes of Bartolo and di Paolo…

Imagine yourself sitting in a Parisian coffeeshop overlooking the Seine as you browse the Impressionist collection featuring Monet to Morisot…

Art is so much more than the individual artwork itself…art is a journey into a different time and perspective – it opens you up to learning about new cultures, challenging yourself with new ideas and learning about history through the memory of a canvas. The VMFA does a great job curating their collection to invite visitors to learn and experience the art. You’ll feel a bit like a world traveler as you move through the galleries from Ancient Mesopotamia to European Splendors, American Treasures, Asian Art to Russia…

Quick Facts about VMFA:

• VMFA opened in 1936 with the help of Judge John Barton Payne (who donated 50 paintings to the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1919 to start the collection); During The Great Depression, Payne worked with Virginia Gov. John Garland Pollard to gain funding from the Works Projects Administration under President Franklin D. Roosevelt to establish a Virginia State Art Museum. 
• The main building was designed by Peebles and Ferguson Architects of Norfolk in the Georgian and English Renaissance style…when wandering the older portion of the museum you feel as though you are wandering one of the great gallery halls of Europe.
• The VMFA is one of the largest museums in the United States (exhibition space) – home to a vast permanent collection, as well as numerous touring exhibitions.
• With over 40,000 works of art, VMFA is one of the premier art institutions in the United States (and worldwide)…It’s Impressionist collection is tops with works by Van Gogh (3 paintings in one museum is a big feat in itself- note: 2 currently on view), multiple works by Degas, Morisot and more…
• Has the largest Faberge collection outside of Russia.
• Home to the largest Art Nouveau collection outside of France
• Only art museum in the US that is open 365 days a year!

My mom and I spent five hours at the VMFA, but in all honestly I could have spent days wandering the museum and soaking in the galleries. We were on a strict timeline (one day in the area) and I was determined to see as much as possible during our trip. While I don’t regret doing this, and I’m a seasoned art expeditioneer, if possible it might make sense to break up your trip into two days and focus a few hours at VMFA, then take a break (at neighboring history or science museum perhaps). Also the museum offers a highlights tour (check their schedule)…

• Pro Tip: When touring a museum I always recommend researching their collection online in advance of your tour…This is not to take away the element of surprise, but rather to ensure you can prioritize which galleries/artworks are must see at that museum. I then challenge you to make sure to tour styles and eras of art that are outside of your comfort zone…you might fall in love with a new artistic style/artist.

For the sake of today’s post I’ll share a few photo highlights divided by geographical/art movement…I’m a huge fan of Renaissance art and Impressionism and spent etra time in those galleries…The most unexpected highlights for me were the ancient Greco-Roman coins and also the Faberge collection. My Grandmother Sara loved Faberge Eggs and collected them her whole life. She even traveled to Russia in the 1980s and brought home additional eggs. My grandmother instilled my passion for art and culture and it felt like she was with me as we walked through those galleries.

Roman Highlights:

Above: Head of Herm, 1st century BC-1st century AD

• Herms are a form of sculpture that originated in Greece in the sixth century BC and have remained popular in art ever since. They consist of a head (usually bearded) on a tall pillar from which posts (suggesting arms). 
• This has a quintessential Greco-Roman quality that spoke to me

Renaissance Art: If you follow Art Expeditions regularly then you know I have a passion for everything Renaissance. VMFA did not disappoint. I was in awe of their collection.

European Collection – Baroque and Beyond

Impressionism and Post-Impressionism:

While D.C.’s National Gallery, Chicago’s Art Institute, New York’s MET etc…are magnets for Impressionism pilgrims…don’t overlook the amazing collection that Richmond’s VMFA has. Through generous gifts by The Mellon Collection and others…VMFA boasts an astonishing number of top-flight Impressionism paintings. 

I counted four unique Monet, several Degas – not to mention Boudin and Morisot…I hope to write a longer post specifically on the museum’s Impressionist collection, but here is a bit of a teaser of the gallery highlights.

I was delighted to discover the collection’s self portrait of one of my favorite artists Paul Cezanne…I actually named my orange tabby cat after Cezanne (she is a work of art in my eyes 🙂

The Post-Impressionist Collection also featured amazing works by several other personal favorites of mine: Pierre Bonnard and Henri Matisse. As an artist myself their use of color and out of the box perspective has inspired me in many of my own creations. 

One artist that is not to be missed in the collection is the work by Maurice Utrillo…I discovered his art at The MOMA and have loved it ever since. His mother was a famous artist in her own right, Suzanne Valadon. She served as one of Renoir’s models for several of his important paintings. 

Faberge:

While Faberge is known for their eggs, I was mesmerized by the relgious art and Mother Mary:

The American Collection features amazing works by Sargent to Hassam…as well as one of my personal favorite’s: Thomas Moran’s Bridalveil Falls (Yosemite, California)…Fun fact: Moran’s artwork of Yellowstone helped inspire Congress to designate it as a National Park in 1872.

I hoped you enjoyed this Art Expedition…stay tuned for more art-adventures…

Interested in visiting VMFA?

It is conveniently located in Richmond VA (only two hours from DC and around 3 from Raleigh NC) in The Museum District…

To plan your Richmond trip visit their tourism site

For details on visiting the VMFA click here

Admission is free (with exception of special exhibits); they have wonderful restaurant(s) on site and a lovely gift shop worth exploring.

*Art Expeditions is written by artist and art history lover Adele Lassiter…Don’t forget to subscribe to Art Expeditions for the latest blog posts and art news.

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