Friday, December 30, 2005
Stupid French
The Mona Lisa is perhaps the most famous painting in the world. It is truly a global treasure. So you would think it would be displayed such that the millions of people who come to see it can appreciate all the subtle details in this masterpiece. Nope.
I was in Paris last week and saw the painting. They've changed the display since I saw it last year; it's now behind a giant sheet of glass. That's good thinking, because you want to make sure it's protected. The problem is that the glass is very reflective. In a brightly lit room. On the opposite wall is one of those giant mural paintings, maybe 15 feet by 20 feet. So when you're looking at the Mona Lisa, the mural is superimposed on all the dark areas of her clothing. Here's a simulation:
Dim the lights in the room. Put a black panel opposite the display case. Whatever. Just do SOMETHING to improve the display. How can a world class museum such as the Louvre screw this up so badly?
Stupid French.
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The Mona Lisa is perhaps the most famous painting in the world. It is truly a global treasure. So you would think it would be displayed such that the millions of people who come to see it can appreciate all the subtle details in this masterpiece. Nope.
I was in Paris last week and saw the painting. They've changed the display since I saw it last year; it's now behind a giant sheet of glass. That's good thinking, because you want to make sure it's protected. The problem is that the glass is very reflective. In a brightly lit room. On the opposite wall is one of those giant mural paintings, maybe 15 feet by 20 feet. So when you're looking at the Mona Lisa, the mural is superimposed on all the dark areas of her clothing. Here's a simulation:
Dim the lights in the room. Put a black panel opposite the display case. Whatever. Just do SOMETHING to improve the display. How can a world class museum such as the Louvre screw this up so badly?
Stupid French.
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