Scooby Doo & Rembrandt Too

I’ve been a New Yorker all my life, and in my lifetime I’ve been to the Met (or Metropolitan Museum of Art) at least 18 times. However, despite my repetitive visits the museum has never failed to surprise me with something new to see. Just recently, I made another visit to the museum with my whole family and I thought I’d share some amazing things that we saw here:

Take a look at this guy. He doesn’t look like much with his big puffy velvet artist hat, but behind his beseeching gaze is a soul that has gone from guts to grace. If you don’t recognize him, his name is none other then Rembrandt van Rijn. He went from being the son of a miller, to the acclaimed artist and party boy of Hollands Golden Age, to a man humbled by poverty who learned that Grace is better than glory. His work is usually not shown anywhere other than in Holland, so its pretty amazing that the MET got a whole room full of his work on loan! But only for a little while! If you are able to see one of them in person, you could undoubtedly see the deep emotion within the imperfect forms of humanity he paints. Or you’ll think “Gee Scooby is it just me are those eyes following us? Doik!”

Wouldn’t you like to drink out of this cup? While crashing a guided tour my mom and I found out that this cup and the silver one behind it, were cups used to serve Persian King Artaxerxes. The silver one in particular was used by famous cup-bearer Nehemiah to serve the king! How cool is that?! In fact, the tour guide said that it is quite possible that these two cups were used by Queen Esther when she exposed Haman’s attempt at annihilating God’s chosen people.

This little number is the third model of the Colt’s Dragoon .44 Caliber Repercussion Revolver (the sort of revolver that Maddie Ross carries around in True Grit)! Made out of steel, brass, gold, and walnut- this dates back to 1853!

This is the Tara Brooch, not only did it’s familiar name (think, Gone With the Wind) draw my attention, but also how pretty and ornate this small piece was. A reproduction of the original, which is at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin, the brooch is said to exemplify early medieval Irish metalworkers achievements.

Oh! My knight in shining armor! I visit these guys every time I go to the MET, because, we’ll in case they suddenly come to life I want to be the first damsel in distress (scratch that, these guys are actually pretty short believe it or not).