Florida, May 2014, Pt. V – Museums

[Categories: Photography, Travel Photography, Photography 101 Forever]

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I must get done with Florida before it is last year’s travel.  There is a lot to see there but I have the Paonia wine weekend to report and I must get started on the current issue of Lapham’s Quarterly Summer 2014: Youth.

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
—Robert Frost

(My Home Page banner, courtesy of WordPress, alludes more to The Road not Taken, but that’s a coincidence.)

We saw some fabulous museums in Florida.

Do you like Tiffany’s works, as in Louis Comfort Tiffany?  (Lou-weee I find it is pronounced, not the Lou-wis I’m prone to use.)  He of the stained glass lampshades with dragonflies and the drop-dead beautiful stained glass windows wherever you are fortunate to view them.

This is a picture of one of his windows.  I took it (the picture, not the window) in May 2004 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, with my old Sony DSC-V1.

Alas, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, FL does not allow photographs to be taken inside.  The best I can do is the outside:

If you are a Tiffany aficionado then this museum is a must-see.  There are few if any windows of the quality above but there are 500 other works.  It must be a well-run foundation operating the museum as admission was $5 ($4 for seniors like me).  Winter Park is only 20 minutes or so NW of central Orlando.

In St. Petersburg, FL we visited the Dali Museum, he of the paintings with drooping watches.

Even if you’re not a devoted fan of Dali, as I’m not, after a close look at his work I think you will find him intriguing, thought-provoking, and sheer genius, as I did.  I highly recommend this museum.  Here are a few more building photos on OneDrive.

Speaking of those I’ve come to call the ‘silent robber barons’, e.g. people like Louis Comfort Tiffany and Charles Hosmer Morse, who became wealthy in their respective productive industries but you don’t hear as much of as the barons of steel, oil, and railroads, what about John Ringling of the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus?  His estate, mansion, and art museum is in Sarasota, FL.  (BTW the term robber barons is a myth.)

Ca’D’Zan, House of John. Palatial.

A circus wagon. The wagons, extensive minature circus, and Ringling’s personal Pullman rail car are not to be missed.

The Ringling grounds and museums are incredible.  Browse the website for a taste.  The museum of art is packed with Old Masters.  There is an extensive cultural program and rotating exhibitions.  Local residents are so fortunate to live near this and be able to use it.  I will be returning (not only because I spent so much time on the rest of the grounds that I raced through the fantastic art museum just before closing).  (Non-flash photography was allowed everywhere!)  Here is a sample:

Courtyard at the Museum of Art.

The Ringling Museum of Art.

Ca’D’Zan back terrace.

A Ca’D’Zan ceiling detail.

Bar.

Ca’D’Zan great room.

The photo obsessed or Ca’D’Zan curious can view a phistful of photos phor phun here.

Enjoy.