Rejection of a Masterpiece: Death of the Virgin by Caravaggio

[CTyankee]

32. The back story on the Met is fascinating.

Trying to remember a book I read a while back on the development of art appreciation in the U.S....evidently the very rich collectors lobbied the congressman from their district and a senator to get a revision in the tax laws not to charge import duties on art coming into the country. That freed up some major works of European art, such as that of J.P. Morgan's who had quite a large collection languishing in England, to this country and of course to the Metropolitan. Nelson Rockefeller's grandfather, Sen. Nelson Aldrich, was the senator responsible.

I also adore the Frick (I love house museums) and the newish Neue Gallery (for which Ron Lauder bought Klimt's "Adele Bloch-Bauer," a stunning work). And, if you get there on a good day, the MoMA (the lines can be daunting, however).

However, I must give a cheer for the MFA in Boston. There's a Goya exhibit opening there on Oct. 12, that I will see will my daughter. I'll give a report to DU! I have had some moments of unrestrained JOY at the MFA. And right across the street, the Isabelle Gardner (Sargent's El Jaleo is there!).