I went to the Portrait Gallery for the first time yesterday. I know, I know...two years here and I haven't been. And what's even sadder is that I go to Chinatown a lot, so...I walk past the museum a lot. Anyway, I figured I'd kill the early part of an afternoon and check it out, especially because of the American Presidents Portrait exhibition.
I really liked the second floor. I went upstairs and first came across the sculpture of The Dying Tomahawk (excuse me please if my memory has failed me here. The name was along these lines) which reminded me of The Dying Gaul. Allow me a moment to get off topic. I just have to profess my love of this statue and maybe because it is such an incredible and, yes, even a little triumphant, portrayal of my Celtic heritage. Because, when you look at it, the Celt is dying but he's still strong, raising himself up and fighting against his defeat. Which is something I think the Celts did until the very, very end. I will definitely be making a trip to Rome to see this in person.
Anyway...back to the museum. There was another painting that I didn't get to see the title of, but it's in an enclave all by itself (it's huge, for one) and the room was draped with red velvet curtains. It's of the Sierra Nevadas, I heard someone say, and is breathtaking. Looking at it, you just have to wonder about what this country looked like to the first explorers. I think occasionally you can still get a glimpse of this, but...well, you'll have to take a look at this painting. Go to the Portrait Gallery if for nothing else than to see this painting. Second floor, you can't miss it.
On to the American Presidents: What I liked about the exhibition was the statues and portraits and busts of the first presidents. I have always been enthralled with the start of "American" history, with these giants of American history. They were brilliant and articulate and courageous and while walking through these portraits I had to wonder: Have they simply become legendary to pass on the dream?
Is it possible that they really were larger than life even during their time period? And I don't just mean the very early Presidents, but all those early figures. And even throughout history there have been extraordinary people: Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, Boudicea, Napoleon, Socrates, Aristotle, Chief Seattle, etc., etc.
I'm reminded of that Shakespeare quote from Twelfth Night: "Be not afraid of greatness: some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." Which speaking of Shakespeare, he is definitely included in the above list.
Or were they simply ordinary people doing ordinary things and legends, like chopping down the cherry tree, started to spring up to make them larger than life? I find this difficult to believe, and I don't even want to believe it. I like believing there have been towering people roaring through the pages of history. Going back to Shakespeare, when I've heard people spout the theory that it was several people writing under the name of Shakespeare, I want to refuse to believe that. Why couldn't one man be so intelligent and eloquent that words flowed from his pen in lyrical brilliance?
Which leads me to wonder about today. Are we too cynical to recognize and encourage that one-man greatness? Or is it something that will only be recognizable generations later to historians looking back? If the circumstances create the man, then I think the circumstances are there. And in today's world of instant news, I would think we'd be able to pick him out in an instant. Or if he's out there, are we, the cynical society, just looking for an excuse to knock him down?
In other news, also sparked by my trip to the Portrait Gallery, I did have a new idea while on the second floor. I won't say anything about it now, mainly because I don't really have anything more than the seed of the idea that I really need to work on fleshing out. But I love the rush that comes when a new idea hits me, the excitement and the urgency of needing to write it down. As it came to me, I just wanted to run home and start typing. Luckily I had a piece of paper and a pen and could jot down the few key ideas so I could enjoy the galleries a little longer. But...that's what I'll be working on today probably.
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