How to Visit a Museum

by David Finn

How to Visit a Museum conveys the real excitement of visiting a museum for children and adults in a personal and informal manner. Museum educators will find this book a useful tool for developing programs that help visitors obtain a more rewarding experience from their museum visits.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Museums

135 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 1985

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This slim volume gives some great ideas on how to visit a museum. I've always either gone to museums for special exhibitions or to wander around aimlessly trying to squeeze everything in. This is especially the case when I'm visiting museums in far-flung places. But the author writes about seeking out what speaks to your heart; about learning something about new artists or masterpieces; about lingering in front of those pieces that resonate with you. He also talks about whether it is better to visit a museum alone or with a friend or partner; about letting your eyes, not the labels, guide you; about enjoying a museum itself as a work of art; about visiting small areas in local museums, instead of trying to see the entire museum in one fell swoop. I thought it interesting that the author suggests that our first hour in a museum is when we're most enthusiastic, with out attention declining with each additional hour. I like this commonsense guide, as well as the beautiful photos throughout the book, and I hope it will help me to more mindfully appreciate museums I visit.

[Вика Медведь · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant, quick read that I picked up at my library's book sale. It wasn't nearly as judgmental as I feared: the author is essentially advocating identifying the types of art that you're interested in seeing and seeking it out; going through the museum at a pace that you are comfortable with; not trying to tackle too much in one trip; and most of all, to try to keep an open mind. That's pretty much the bulk of his advice. The text is peppered with attractive photos of paintings,sculptures, and museums, some of which I know, many of which I don't. He also has museums he recommends, many of which are close to me in Washington, D.C., so it gave me something to seek out when I'm there next. As someone who frequents museums, it didn't tell me much new, but it did provide evidence that at least I'm not doing it wrong!

[RaeJeana]

"I cannot explain why certain work by Rembrandt or Rubens strike me as being masterpieces; or why Roualt's profoundly religious paintings almost never fail to move me; or why the silent, lonely scenes by Edward Hopper strike such a deep chord in my soul; or why Emil Nolde's richly colorful paintings seem so stunning; or why I find the late watercolors of Cézanne the epitome of pure beauty. Nor can I describe my emotions when I stand before Cellini's perfectly modeled renditions of the human figure; or Bernini's swirling forms -- particularly in his terracotta bozzetti; or Marino Marini's sometimes exuberant, sometimes tragic expressions of the life force; or Henry Moore's sinous, curving, straining, flesh-and-bone-like creations. These and so many others speak to my inner being. I have experienced their qualities so deeply that they are part of me. They are what I am."

[Lenka · Rating 3 out of 5]

"There is no right or wrong way to visit a museum."

Although it is an older book, the experience of visiting a museum has not changed so dramatically. The book offers some still up-to-date insights and reflections on how and why we should visit museums, combined with photographs of famous art.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy-to-read volume that offers some solid tips on planning a museum visit. It’s at its best when it gives actionable advice, but too often veers off into a travelogue of the author’s own adventures. Still, for the price, I can recommend it.

[Joshua Gates · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very compelling glance into the cognitive personas of citizens for reasons relating to museum visitation. He highlights a few of these and provided useful tips for hot to visit a museum. What Finn stresses, to be the neutral theme, is take your time and bring someone with because that heights the experience. However there is nothing wrong Finn outlines with going by yourself, but the unfortunate repercussion is that you will not be able to share your observations or discoveries with that person. Finn also suggests visiting a museum more than once because a viewer will indefinitely undeniably weary as the adventure wears on, thus a second, and perhaps a third visit will allow such enumerations as "Wow" and "Those lines are deep and colorful and speak to the greater ambiance of the girl." A zealous look into cognitive museum-based perceptions of the average citizen.

[Feisty Harriet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have had this on my bedside table for probably three months, reading it a bit at a time. It has some nice ideas about how to go through a museum and get the most out of it depending on how long you have to spend in said museum. It was interesting, and perhaps I internalized some of the points to incorporate into my next trek to an art museum, but I wouldn’t recommend it this book to anyone but art historian or museum curators.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Your object is to enjoy THIS visit, so look for those works that appeal most to you NOW" for a personal sense of discovery. Illustrations highlight details of paintings and sculptures: Botticelli's Venus and Mars (National Gallery, London), Apollo Belvedere (The Vatican), Charioteer of Delphi (Archaeological Museum, Delphi), Bernini's Pluto and Proserpina (Galleria Borghese, Rome).

[Marcella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annoyingly specific to certain museums and certain works of art, when I was hoping for a more general approach. I may not be the ideal audience for this book as I used to be a museum employee and before that, as a museum and art lover, I had already figured out the approach he describes here (go alone and at your own pace, go often and don't be afraid to stop when you're done).

[Gretta · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very basic, but the ideas were sound and the pictures were beautiful!!!