The Van Gogh museum had to be my personal favorite out of all the museums I visited throughout Europe. This was one of the first I had been to that was dedicated to a single artist. The museum was organized in chronological order so you could walk through Van Gogh’s life step by step and see how different points of his life effected his paintings. His art was usually a mix of landscapes, self-portraits, and different scenes of moments, however; all of his work always featured large globs of texture filled paint that would bring the canvas to life. After about two to three hours of immersing myself in paintings, I walked out of there with a new-found desire to do some painting myself.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rome is home to the almighty Vatican Museum, which is also home to the legendary Sistine Chapel. I must start off by saying these pictures do not do Michelangelo any justice at all. This man was incredible and I never quite understood just how incredible he really was until I saw this masterpiece covering the ceiling of the chapel and was just amazed. It’s hard to imagine Michelangelo hand painting the entire piece over the span of four years, but in fact, that is exactly how it happened. While the painting was in progress, Michelangelo became so jealous of his work that he wouldn’t allow anyone to see it before it was completed! I think it’s fair to say it was well worth the wait. Even with all the crowds and long lines it was still an unforgettable experience. I would definitely say it is one of those things you truly need to see for yourself if you have the chance. Also pictured are some photos of David, another famous product of Michelangelo, and the Duomo.
Rome, Italy
Musée d’Orsay was a gem. To be completely honest, I chose to visit this museum over the Louvre, and it did not disappoint. It was nice change of pace to be able to explore different exhibits from various time periods and view everything without feeling rushed or crowded. Some of my favorite finds were the original statue of Liberty and this super crazy detailed sculpture of gladiators fighting (pictured below). The museum was inside of an old train station which complemented all the art very nicely.
Paris, France
