ART FROM HOME — 10 OF THE BEST VIRTUAL MUSEUM EXPERIENCES IN THE AMERICAS

Ever wanted to visit Frida Kahlo’s home in Mexico City, stand before Old Masters at the Frick in New York, or admire the antiquities at the Getty? Well, you still can, thanks to the ingenuity of some of the finest museums in the Americas

1The FrickTake a virtual tour of the museum

Henry Clay Frick’s Upper East Side mansion-turned-museum had already been due to close temporarily in 2020 — it has a massive renovation planned, which will open up the second floor to the public for the first time. Ahead of breaking ground the Frick unveiled a brilliantly intuitive virtual tour of the building which can also, helpfully, walk you through the evolution of its architecture.

The museum’s SoundCloud page contains audio guides to accompany your circuit. These focus on both the grand house and its collection of fine Old Masters, sculpture, porcelain and furniture.

The Garden Court, The Frick Collection, New York. Photo Michael Bodycomb

Don’t miss… Johannes Vermeer’s masterpiece Officer and Laughing Girl, which hangs in the Frick’s South Hall. This brilliant study of indoor light and perspective was probably painted around 1657 with the use of a camera obscura — you can build your own rudimentary version at home with an empty cereal box.

2Los Angeles County Museum of ArtWatch a film narrated by Tom Waits on John Baldessari

In response to the California lockdown, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art has rebranded its website to LACMA @ Home. Highlights from its content to ‘watch, listen, learn, read and browse’ include LACMA Productions, a series of cool contemporary artist profile videos made by emerging and mid-career filmmakers, and the museum’s exhibition soundtracks — curated playlists of old and new music from across the world inspired by LACMA’s recent shows, such as Fiji: Art & Life in the Pacific and To Rome and Back: Individualism and Authority in Art, 1500-1800. Inspiring background noise for working from home.

Don’t miss… Chocolate, Food of the Gods, in Maya Art, a fascinating article from LACMA’s Unframed  blog. Originally written for National Chocolate Day (28 October in the USA) in 2016, it delves into the story of cacao consumption and worship in the pre-Columbian Americas.

3Museum of Art São PauloTake a virtual tour of MASP’s ‘Picture Gallery in Transformation’

4National Gallery of ArtExplore viewing options for the exhibition Raphael and his Circle

5Art Institute of ChicagoEnjoy El Greco: Ambition and Defiance from the comfort of your home

6The Metropolitan Museum of ArtView the works included in Gerhard Richter: Painting After All

7The Bass Museum of ArtTake a virtual tour of Ugo Rondinone: good evening beautiful blue

8Frida Kahlo MuseumHave a look around the museum from your armchair

9The GettyEnjoy a guided tour of The Legacy of Ancient Palmyra

Attributed to the Isidora Master (Romano-Egyptian, active 100-125), Mummy Portrait of a Woman, A.D. 100. Encaustic on linden wood; gilt; linen. 48 x 36 x 12.8 cm. 81.AP.42. The J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection, Malibu, California. Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program

10The Solomon R. Guggenheim MuseumTake a virtual tour of the museum

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