As the artist Vincent Van Gogh once said: "I have art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?”
During this time that many of us are staying indoors, it can be difficult to keep our imaginations entertained and to keep our thirst for knowledge quenched. Thankfully, art is there to save the day! There are many museums in Italy and throughout Europe that can be visited online to have an international experience from the comfort of your home.
The John Cabot Student Services Team has put together a list of eight European museums with online collections worth checking out. Relax, make yourself comfortable, and click on the links below to get started.
1. Brera Art Gallery - Milan, Italy
The Brera Art Gallery opened in 1809. It was meant to bring together some of the finest works of art and was specifically dedicated to educating students. Today, it is possible to admire collections of Italian masterpieces from the 13th to the 20th century at the Brera Art Gallery. On the website, you can find a photographic library of artistic reproductions of the Gallery's works of art and monuments.
2. Uffizi Galleries - Florence, Italy
The Botticelli's Birth of Venus is certainly the most famous work of art that you can admire at the charming Galleria degli Uffizi, containing one of the world's most important collections of paintings (Raffaello, Michelangelo, Giotto). The Gallery occupies the first and the second floor of the large building designed by Giorgio Vasari in the 16th century. Sculptures, ancient statues, books, and architecture make the big picture of this incredible cradle of art collections.
3. Vatican Museums - Rome, Italy
No need to ask why 6 million people visit the Vatican Museums each year! The virtual visit will take you inside the Sistine Chapel, where you will be surrounded by divine frescoes representing the Last Judgement and nine stories from the genesis. On the website, you can take a tour of the residence of Pope Julius and Raphael's rooms, step into the Chiaramonti Museum, and discover many other areas.
4. National Archaeological Museum - Athens, Greece
If you are a History or Classical Studies major or just have a thing for all things ancient, the National Archaeological Museum of Athens is the right place for you! It is the largest archaeological museum in Greece and one of the most important museums in the world devoted to ancient Greek art. From the website, it is possible to learn about all of the different collections housed in the museum.
5. Prado Museum - Madrid, Spain
Tiziano, Raphael, Goya Rembrandt are only some of the artists whose works you can see at the Prado Museum. The collection ranges includes Spanish, Italian, Flemish, and French paintings and more, painting a panorma of 200 years of European master artists. Need some inspiration? Look for the Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch, the Annunciation by Fra Angélico, the Three Graces by Rubens, and Rembrandt’s Artemisa.
6. Louvre Museum - Paris, France
The Louvre's collection covers Western art from the medieval period to 1848, formative works from the civilizations of the ancient world, and works of Islamic art. La Gioconda by Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the most famous works of art in the museum, but what about the delicate beauty of the Venus de Milo or Psyche and Cupid by Canova? It is hard to name only a few works of art without drawing your attention to others.
7. British Museum - London, England
On the collection database of the website, you can "only" see half of the 8 million objects that make the British Museum a cradle of 2 million years of history. From Anglosaxon ship burial to Asia's bronze ritual vessels, let the passion for history guide you through the magnificence of civilization.
8. State Hermitage Museum - Saint Petersburg, Russia
The State Hermitage Museum is one of the largest and most prestigious museums in the world. The collection contains a mind-boggling 3 million items spread across 120 different rooms. Where to start? Have a look at the Treasure Gallery, which contains rare pieces of Scythian and ancient Greek jewelry.
