Page 52 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Chicago

50  CHIC A GO AREA B Y AREA

Exploring the Art Institute of Chicago
The museum’s holdings span the globe as well as centuries,
from 3rd-millennium BC Chinese artifacts to modern
American and European art. Almost every major artistic
movement of the 19th and 20th centuries is represented.
The museum’s Early Modernism collection is very strong;
its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection – one
of the most signi ficant in the world – is outstanding. Flower gardens in the grounds of
Important Renaissance and Baroque paintings complement the Art Institute
these exhibits.
and brass, the suit is decorated
with large medallions depicting
allegorical figures.
Decorative Arts
For unparalleled insight into
the ever-changing taste of
Western society, visit the
decorative arts galleries.
Their broad array embraces
household items, including
furniture and tableware,
jewelry, and religious artifacts.
The impressive European
collection contains 25,000
objects crafted from wood,
metal, glass, ceramics, enamel,
Visitor to the European gallery appreciating the old masters on display and ivory dating from 1100 to
the present. It also includes
carved 13th-century stone sculpture from the medieval
Asian Art
statute of Sara swati, the Hindu period to 1900.
Some of the museum’s most goddess of learning, from The American collection
exquisite pieces are in its Southern India. includes an excellent selection
distinguished Asian collection, The Art Institute also houses of Arts and Crafts furniture,
which comprises 35,000 Persian 16th-century illumin- including a beautiful oak library
works of archeological and ated manuscripts and miniature table (1896) designed by Frank
artistic significance. paintings, though these are not Lloyd Wright (see p32).
The galleries of Chinese, currently on view. The fine European and
Japanese, and Korean art American textile collection
include celebrated collections spans 15 centuries and features
of ancient Chinese bronzes Arms and Armor vestments, tapestries, and
and jades, 18th- and 19th- Remarkable works of late embroideries. Highlights are a
century Japanese woodblock medieval and Renaissance 19th-century William Morris-
prints, and early Korean metal-craft are showcased in designed carpet and two rare
ceramic vases. the George F. Harding
The art from the Golden Age Collection. One of the finest
of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618– such collections in North
907) is the prize of this exhibit, America, it consists of 3,000
in particular, the magnificent pieces of arms and armor.
brightly glazed earthenware These include finely etched
funerary horses. helmets, chain mail, equestrian
Indian, Himalayan, and equipment, historic weaponry,
Southeast Asian art dating from and decorated breastplates.
the 2nd to 19th centuries One of the earliest pieces in
encompasses artifacts of the the collection is a breastplate
Hindu and Buddhist faiths. from northern Italy. Dating from
Among the gems here are the 1380, its original fabric covering
nearly life-sized 2nd- and is still intact. Also striking is a
3rd-century bodhisattva 1575 northern Italian suit of
sculptures from Gandhara armor, used for foot combat. The grand staircase and foyer of
(present-day Pakistan), and a Made of etched and gilded steel the Art Institute

050-051_EW_Chicago.indd 50 13/07/16 2:59 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Flashmap follow-on template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.5)
Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm