Storm on the Sea of Galilee

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston is reopening tomorrow for members!   The Gardner Museum has been closed since November 15, 2011  During this period, the museum has been completing the final stages of construction and preservation work—including the restoration of the Tapestry Room and a decade-long upgrade of lighting in the historic galleries. Museum staff have also moved a number of visitor-related and administrative functions to the new building and have installed three opening exhibitions. The closure period for the public will end on Thursday, January 19, 2012 when the museum opens the Renzo Piano wing and refreshed historic galleries to the public.  
http://www.buildingproject.gardnermuseum.org/

El Jaleo Reproduction

Even if the weather and busy schedules don't permit frequent in-person visits, the Gardner has one of the best websites I have ever seen.  Their "Explore" function allows a room by room virtual walk through.  Zoom in and out for the most amazing look at minute details of your favorite paintings, and their entire collection.   I wish I had known about the Explore feature when I was tried to create the following reproduction of John Singer Sargent's "El Jaleo,"  my favorite painting.

Storm on the Sea of Galilee

For many the Gardner Museum is best known as the site of one of the world's most famous unrecovered art thefts.   The Storm on the Sea of Galilee was painted by Rembrandt during the 1630's.  It is considered by many to be his most dramatic work, and his only known seascape.   The work is oil on canvas measuring 62.5 inches by 49.6 inches.   The twenty seven year old Rembrandt depicts Christ and his disciples aboard the small boat during an intense and violent storm.



The watercolor below is a practice sketch for a future oil reproduction that I would like to attempt.  What better way to study and appreciate the masterful genius of Sargent and Rembrandt than to paint every last detail of their work for yourself.   The lowly result cannot compare to the original, but I found it thoroughly enjoyable to paint and will continue to do it.



Reproduction Sketch of Storm on the Sea of Galilee

I'll be at the Gardner this week to explore the old and the new!