Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Great Hall


The Great Hall at the Wadsworth Atheneum underwent a long restoration.  It is now gray and exhibits modern art.  Before, the walls were red and it showed huge historic and biblical paintings.  (The paintings gave Susie nightmares.)

I liked it better before.

This hall is in the Morgan Building, given by J. P. Morgan in honor of his father.




27 comments:

Cezar and Léia said...

A beautiful hall and I would love visiting the exhibitions there!
Léia

Mo said...

Very grand

brattcat said...

i'm with you, jack.

Dianne said...

I love the deep red walls Jack ... A wonderful backdrop for those superb pieces of art ....what a pity they changed it..

VP said...

I am not a lover of biblical paintings, but I guess they were slighytly better than what is shown now. I really like the hall of the Morgan Building.

Unknown said...

I like it now, but I do hope they have the Biblical paintings showing somewhere.

Malyss said...

I must say that I prefer the old red hall..Much more impressive, and I also prefer the biblical paintings.

Luis Gomez said...

Looks very nice Jack!

Laurrie said...

I liked the red walls and heavy historical paintings better before too.

In 1999 we had our wedding reception in the hall. Our family and guests still talk about how grand it all was!

Susie said...

I remember being scared of a painting of a guy's head on a plate. Was it biblical, or just European history? ;)

Lowell said...

Oh my! The restoration is far superior!

And that's the truth from the Old Howling Bastard! Very funny comment, you rascal, you!

Randy said...

What a great room.

Sharon said...

I'm with you on this one. I like the color before the restoration. However, the light in this hall make it perfect for viewing art.

Sylvia K said...

Yep, count me in! I, too, really like the color before restoration! Terrific captures of a beautiful place! Would love to visit there. Hope your week is going well, Jack!

Sylvia

Jack said...

I am pretty sure it was a biblical painting. When I find time, I might put my googling skills to work on identifying it.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Gosh you couldn't get more different if you tried Jack, that's a complete transformation. I think I might have to go against the trend, I love the red walls from before, but prefer the modern art to the 'scary' biblical stuff!

RedPat said...

You probably knew I would go for the modern - like the balcony that has appeared and prefer that art. I do like the pink walls though.

cieldequimper said...

I'm not too much into biblical paintings either, though there are a few Italian or Flemish masters that I really don't mind looking at. :-) The new, modern, subdued grey look is something that seems to be rather fashionable.

joo said...

I love both.The 'new' version looks so clean and airy!

Unknown said...

I like both versions but I think a light coloured wall is better for colourful modern art.

EG CameraGirl said...

Both versions work for me though I do prefer the reno.

Halcyon said...

Hmmm... I like the red walls better. I think they make a bigger contrast with the art. But I prefer the modern stuff to the Biblical paintings. I can appreciate the technique and artistry in those works, but the subject matter doesn't interest me.

Regina K said...

I like it better with grey walls shows off that beautiful ceiling.

SRQ said...

Seems the new Great Hall is getting mixed reviews, Jack. First, let me say I'm impressed you have before and after photos to show us. That being said, I don't find the renovation appealing at all. Nope! I believe the nightmarish painting you and Susie are referring to is John the Baptist's head on a platter (from the book of Matthew).

Tash said...

I like them both! As you know, I do like lots of contemporary art (I do stop at gross stuff, some of which I saw ever so briefly at LA MOCA Pacific Standard exhibit and so wish I did not) and the bright colors of the new are very appealing. The old exhibit had some terrific art pieces and the wall color was a delight.
In both cases, you've done so well photographing a truly great hall.

Nathalie said...

Just like you I prefer the red walls. Just like Grace I'd like to see modern art on red walls - I really have no affinity with biblical paintings.

I just LOVE before/after shots and yours beats the lot!

Kate said...

Both have positives and negatives, such as life does. I noticed that the bibilical paintings have been roped off from the viewers but the modern art does not. Is that a statement about the relative value of either collection?