I’m sure a lot of you have already heard about the new Google Art Project, which gives you a street-view-like experience of 17 great art galleries (and with more to come, I’m sure). And while you’re “walking” around, you can stop and zoom in on some of the paintings and see them in great detail. When I noticed The Frick Collection in New York was one of the galleries, I’ll bet most of you knew what the first painting was that I looked for. Sure enough, Hans Holbein’s “Sir Thomas More” is one of the paintings that you can view in detail, right down to the salt-and-pepper beard stubble on his chin!
Other Holbein paintings I found: “The Ambassadors”, “A Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling” and “Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan” from the National Gallery in London and “Henry VIII” in the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid.
Just glancing around, I saw several English renaissance paintings close-ups in the Tate Britain collection as well, and I’m sure there are more to find in some of the other museums.
Of course this isn’t a substitute for visiting the museums and seeing the paintings in person, but it’s a nice way to lose a few hours of your day.
How completely cool!!! As a stay-home mom of young kids, I don’t “get out” to travel much, so these kinds of things are a treat!!
Google rocks.
Holbein’s Cromwell is also in the Frick Collection though unfortunately they did not feature it. But you can see it in the overall picture of the museum. More is on the left side of the fireplace, and Cromwell is on the right. They are facing each other!
I’m in the same boat as a Different Lara, so when opportunities like these come up, I’m thrilled!
Interesting copy of the portrait of More:
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O8821/miniature-sir-thomas-more-and-his/
Shows how good Holbein was.