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The Huntington Library, San Marino, California

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A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to travel to Pasadena. Yes, my husband had business there, but we turned it into a kind of busi-vaca-thing, because we all really felt the need to get out of town. After my husband met with the people he needed to, we were directed to the Huntington Library, which I had never heard of before.
Why hadn't I heard of it? I'm not sure. Because it was FANTASTIC! I couldn't believe how many amazing and gorgeous pieces they had there, not to mention the current exhibits. They also have several gardens, including a botanical garden in a dome filled with warm, moist air and the biggest cactus spines I've ever seen. Henry Huntington, apparently, was filthy rich and loved the arts. Anna married into the family somewhere (She might be a great-niece? Not sure).
There's a good place to start...

Diana, Anna Hyatt Huntington

Diana, Close up
How about this? Anna Hyatt Huntington's Diana. Okay, I don't know who those people are walking in the background. But ever since my husband told me about this statue and showed me picture after picture of it, I thought it was beautiful. He was lucky enough to see a copy in South Carolina over the summer, but said this one was better because you could get right up close to it.

The Blue Boy, by Thomas Gainsborough
I apologize profusely for the crappy picture of this, but you can see a better one here, directly from the Huntington's website. This was taken with my camera, which is a bazillion years old. The Blue Boy is one of the most famous paintings to come from a British artist. Gainsborough knew how to paint. His works are interesting and beautifully done.

Ruth, by Chauncey Bradley Ives
This was one of my husband's favorites. This amazingly gorgeous marble bust is by Chauncey Bradley Ives. He had a few other sculpture at Huntington as well, including Pandora, which was one of my favorites. His most famous piece is probably Undine, which resides at the Chrysler Museum.



Benediction, by Daniel Chester French
This beautiful maquette by Daniel Chester French is called Benediction. I think this was probably a maquette for a bigger statue that never came into fruition. The sculpture doesn't have a lot of detail, but it speaks volumes. For those of you who don't know, Daniel Chester French is the same guy that created the Lincoln Memorial.

Washington Portrait, by Pierre-Jean David d'Angers
This portrait of Washington by d'Angers is one of the more masterful marble busts I've ever seen. There's something ethereal to a piece carved in marble.
 
This is Teucer, original by Sir W. Hamo Thornycroft. I believe I've covered him before, but I'm not sure. Excellent statue, anyway. One of the more beautiful and graceful male figures in sculpture I've ever seen.
 



Saint-Gaudens
I'm pretty sure I've talked about St. Gaudens before. What I love about this is it shows us a glimpse into his work with low-relief. He did several of these, including the Liberty image which can be found on collector gold pieces since the early 1900's.

 
 
 
Library
Ooh! And the library. The actual, library, part of the museum. It's a bad picture, but the room is gorgeous. I could go on and on and on. But I won't. Because you'll get bored. This little-known gem of a museum is a must-see if you're near the Pasadena area or passing through it.
Remember that art is important - it can inspire, uplift, and empathize! Hope you had a good year!
 
 
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