Walters Art Museum: Medieval Art 3rd through 18th Centuries

 The Walters Art Museum is the result of another one of those 19th century Industrialist robber barons that we owe so much to.  They may have raped and pillaged our natural resources, banked on the weakness of the human spirit and abused the poorest amongst us, but darned if they didn't leave a trail of amazing museums in their wake!  Walters and his sons made their nut off of a combination of iron smelting, grain exporting and alcohol sales--quite a diverse portfolio.  And somewhere along the way, they started to fancy art.  What started out as an occasional opening up of their home to the public to show off some of their collection, turned into a full fledged museum constructed one block south of their mansion.  It was built in the Romanesque Palazzo-style between 1905-1909.  One of the unique aspects of the Walters is that it is free to the public.

In the mid-1970's the entire back side of the original building was combined with a Brutalist-style four-story tall Annex that more than doubled the size of the original.  It was a harsh structure.  The closest thing I've ever seen to it is the Denver Art Museum, and it's currently undergoing a massive renovation.  In 1998, the annex was upgraded with the addition of a multi-storied glass window atrium over the Center Street lobby to open and soften the overall effect.  The results are very pleasing.  

A third physical component is the adjacent Hackerman House, a 3 story Greek Revival mansion built in 1850 and incorporating into the museum in 1991.  The result of all of this is also a museum that can seem so efficient and logical, then suddenly freakishly confusing!  The guest map is also way too conceptual to be actually helpful.  While it may indicate one elevator, there may actually be up to three located in close proximity but not side by side.  The signage to get from one place to another is also ambiguous.  But, hey--it's free!

 Let's continue with some highlights from the Medieval collections.  The depth and breadth of Medieval Art at the Walters Art Museum is honestly breathtaking.  Name a medium.  They have something/s.  Name a culture.  They have something/s.  Name a type.  They have something/s.  And more than just something.  Gold, Ivory, Marble, Wood, Precious Stones, Bronze, Fabric, ceramic, glass... Byzantine, Egyptian, Visigoth, French, Spanish, Catalonia, Turkish, Iranian, German...etc.  Jewelry, utensils, weapons, paintings, statuary, books, reliquaries, tools, windows, furniture, pottery, etc.  It's hard to imagine something that wasn't there.  Here are some personal highlights and gallery views.

PLAQUE WITH APOLLO

Early Byzantine (Egypt), circa 3rd-4th centuries

ROUNDEL WITH FISH AND DUCKS

Byzantine (Egypt), 10th century

BOOK-COVER PLAQUE WITH THE CRUCIFIXION

AND HOLY WOMAN AT THE TOMB

Carolinian (Northern France), circa 870-880

PAIR OF EAGLE FIBULAE

Visigoth (Spain) 6th century

HORSE TRAPPINGS

Hunnish (Southwestern Russia) circa 4th-5th centuries

Illustration of a Hun horseman, his horse arrayed with similar trappings.

ALTAR FRONTAL WITH CHRIST IN MAJESTY

AND THE LIFE OF SAINT MARTIN

Catalonian (Spain) 1250 CE

WINDOW PANEL WITH SAINT VINCENT ON THE RACK

French, 1245-47

COMB

Italian (Sicily), late 12th century

DIPTYCH LEAF WITH THE PASSION OF CHRIST

German, late 14th century

MOURNER

Netherlandish, circa 1450 CE

PLATE WITH A CASTLE

Spanish, circa 1450-65

A residence set up in the style of a wealthy Venetian family.  The table is a replica and on it are replicas of both a checker board and a chess set.  Guests may sit down and play a game or two if they wish.

ARMOR

German, circa 1530-60

HELMETS AND BODY ARMOR

Turkish and Iranian, mid-15th to possibly early 18th century.