A couple of weeks ago I decided I would actually keep my promise to do Gallery Reviews, so I went to the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park to start this little venture. The Timken museum is adjacent to the Lily Pond, Botanical Garden Building and the San Diego Museum of Art.
The Timken Museum was founded by Amy and Anne R. Putnam with the help of Walter Ames a long time friend and advisor for the Putnam family. The Putnam sister's had originally donated their collection of European paintings to the San Diego Fine Arts Gallery, and in 1951 the works were designated as the Putnam Foundation Collection. It was only after many of the works traveled throughout prestigious museums around the country did they finally make their way to the Timken, when it officially opened in 1965.
1. Spreckels Organ Pavilion
2. Japanese Garden
3. House of Hospitality
4. Mingei International Museum
5. Museum of Man
6. Old Globe Theatre
7. San Diego Museum of Art
8. Timken Museum(YOU ARE HERE)
9. Botanical Building(beautiful)
10. Casa del Prado
11. San Diego Museum of History
12. Spanish Village Art Center
13. San Diego Museum of Natural History
14. Fleet Science Center
15. San Diego Aerospace Museum
16. San Diego Zoo
The Timken Museum features great works from Europe, America and Russia placed within different sections of the building. Once you enter, the European collection is on your left with the American collection featured in a room within the European collection. Then on your right upon your entrance is more of the European collection and Russian icons, paintings whose individual creators go unknown but still revered by the memory of their time, place or school (The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 16th century Moscow school, The Last Judgement, 16th century, Our Lady Jerusalem, 17th century and more).
(The painting closest to your left is Mrs. Thomas Gage by John Singleton Copely from the American Collection)
The European old master collection spans 600 years, from Western art, and Italian altarpieces to mid-nineteenth century French landscapes. It also includes San Diego's only painting by the great Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn. The Timken really brings a sense of a refined, old worldly atmosphere, it transports you back to the 16th and 17th century and makes you feel as if you are a First class bidder inspecting the works of fine artists of the day. It pales next to some of the other museums much more highlighted in balboa but brings its own flare to the group of fine art Galleries. Its admission is always free which is definitely a plus for the on-a-budget art enthusiast.
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn
1606 - 1669
Saint Bartholomew
ca. 1657
Oil on Canvas
48 3/8 x 39 1/4 in.
In its American collection, there are masterworks by John Singleton Copley and Eastman Johnson. It's exactly what you'd expect out of a collection of the old masters. Every piece is gorgeously crafted and although the colors of the walls are less than flattering and the labels for the paintings are so microscopic they're barely visible, it's a very educational and intriguing gallery for the admirer of the old Masters.
John Singleton Copley
1738-1815
Mrs. Thomas Gage, 1771
Oil on Canvas, 50 x 40 in.
Eastman Johnson
1824 - 1906
The Cranberry Harvest, Island of Nantucket
ca. 1886
Oil on Canvas, 27 3/8 x 54 1/2 in.
The Gallery is very well lit, and provides sufficient space for the paintings so that the viewer doesn't feel crammed. Though small and quaint, it has it's own sophistication and demeanor. The curators are very accommodating and knowledgable. Just ask and they'll gladly give you the history of the work, the artist, the medium used, pretty much any question you have they can answer it. For instance, the picture below is a painting by Benjamin West called Fidelia and Speranza, this is apparent by the tag at the bottom of the painting, but did you know it was based on a story written by Edmund Spencer called The Faerie Queen? and that one of the sisters from the House of Holiness from the story is missing? Did you also know that Benjamin West's talent was so prominent in his town that they raised enough money to send him to learn in the some of the greatest Old Master Schools in Europe? He also had an affixation with myths, stories and legends and drew inspiration from them for his paintings. This is what I learned by just asking the curator. It's like having a history lesson about each painting and artist in 5 minutes or less! Needless to say I enjoyed my experience. There's no replacement for the live gallery experience so if you have a chance go by the Timken it's definitely worth the experience for admiring masterful art and just taking a stroll in the simply calming and breathtaking scenery of Balboa Park.
(My personal favorite :)
Benjamin West
1738 - 1820
Fidelia and Speranza, 1776
Oil on Canvas
53 3/4 x 42 5/8 in.
Museum Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 4:30 pm
Sunday 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Closed Mondays and major holidays
Admission is always free
Address:
Timken Museum of Art
1500 El Prado, Balboa Park
San Diego, California 92101
Phone/Fax/E-mail:
(619) 239-5548
(619) 531-9640
info@timkenmuseum.org
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn
1606 - 1669
Saint Bartholomew
ca. 1657
Oil on Canvas
48 3/8 x 39 1/4 in.
In its American collection, there are masterworks by John Singleton Copley and Eastman Johnson. It's exactly what you'd expect out of a collection of the old masters. Every piece is gorgeously crafted and although the colors of the walls are less than flattering and the labels for the paintings are so microscopic they're barely visible, it's a very educational and intriguing gallery for the admirer of the old Masters.
John Singleton Copley
1738-1815
Mrs. Thomas Gage, 1771
Oil on Canvas, 50 x 40 in.
Eastman Johnson
1824 - 1906
The Cranberry Harvest, Island of Nantucket
ca. 1886
Oil on Canvas, 27 3/8 x 54 1/2 in.
The Gallery is very well lit, and provides sufficient space for the paintings so that the viewer doesn't feel crammed. Though small and quaint, it has it's own sophistication and demeanor. The curators are very accommodating and knowledgable. Just ask and they'll gladly give you the history of the work, the artist, the medium used, pretty much any question you have they can answer it. For instance, the picture below is a painting by Benjamin West called Fidelia and Speranza, this is apparent by the tag at the bottom of the painting, but did you know it was based on a story written by Edmund Spencer called The Faerie Queen? and that one of the sisters from the House of Holiness from the story is missing? Did you also know that Benjamin West's talent was so prominent in his town that they raised enough money to send him to learn in the some of the greatest Old Master Schools in Europe? He also had an affixation with myths, stories and legends and drew inspiration from them for his paintings. This is what I learned by just asking the curator. It's like having a history lesson about each painting and artist in 5 minutes or less! Needless to say I enjoyed my experience. There's no replacement for the live gallery experience so if you have a chance go by the Timken it's definitely worth the experience for admiring masterful art and just taking a stroll in the simply calming and breathtaking scenery of Balboa Park.
(My personal favorite :)
Benjamin West
1738 - 1820
Fidelia and Speranza, 1776
Oil on Canvas
53 3/4 x 42 5/8 in.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A stroll in Balboa Park.....
(The Lily pond and Botanical buidling)
For more info visit the Timken Museum Website!
Museum Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 4:30 pm
Sunday 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Closed Mondays and major holidays
Admission is always free
Address:
Timken Museum of Art
1500 El Prado, Balboa Park
San Diego, California 92101
Phone/Fax/E-mail:
(619) 239-5548
(619) 531-9640
info@timkenmuseum.org
