Princely Treasures from the House of Liechtenstein.

At National Museum of Singapore

National Museum of Singapore.  August 17, 2013.  The Prince of Liechtenstein has loaned some of his art masterpieces to the National Museum of Singapore for a temporary exhibit.  It is a gorgeous collection which includes some famous artists such as Rubens, van Dyck, Raphael and Brueghel.  As impressive as is the art itself, the way the National Museum has mounted the exhibit is as impressive.  The paintings are hung at eye level, have descriptive information next to them enabling viewers like me, who don’t know much about art, to understand what they are looking at, and most importantly, the lighting is better than any I’ve experienced in the great museums of Europe.  I was going to spend an hour at the exhibit, but it was so well done that I stayed there the entire afternoon.

A tapestry

A 16^th century village in winter, painted by Pieter Brueghel the Elder.

I got to know this Anthony van Dyck painting well because I stared at it throughout a piano recital I attend at the museum the night before.  This 17th century painting was right over the piano.

Still Life with Fruit, Dead Game, Vegetables, a Live Monkey, Squirrel and Cat, by the 17^th century Antwerp artist, Frans Snyders.  I don’t usually much like still lifes, but this striking one with vivid colors and beautifully lighted by the museum, appealed to me.

A Canaletto.  St. Marks in Venice, of course.

A group of cute children spending their Saturday afternoon painting portraits at the museum.  All were quiet and all electronics were off.  See what can happen when people are absorbed in what they’re doing.