While many of the effects of the pandemic have been unwanted, not all of them have. In fact, some of the opportunities created are rather extraordinary and exciting. One of these experiences involves being able to virtually travel to destinations you might otherwise not be able to go. This can include destinations abroad, and it can also include some of the best art museums in the world. And with many countries still closed to travel, and COVID restrictions in place, these same online museums offer great excursions.
There are many virtual art experiences available today that weren’t around in the times before COVID. Many online museums have similarly partnered with Google Art and Culture to bring a truly exceptional experience to the viewer. Their platforms of these online museums thus provide high-resolution images and videos. They also allow viewers to zoom in and zoom out, enabling tremendous works of art to be seen in great detail. And they are highly accessible, with many presenting information in 18 different languages. With this in mind, the following are 8 such virtual art experiences of which you’ll want to take advantage.
- Albertina Museum – Vienna, Austria
The Albertina has been in existence since 1805, and it contains some of the most notable international collections of modern art. It also has over 65,000 drawings and over a million old master prints as well. Famous works, like The Water Lily Pond by Monet are housed here along with some by Da Vinci and others. The Albertina is therefore one of the online museums you may want to consider when seeking exceptional virtual art experiences.
- The Dali Theatre Museum – Figueres, Spain
Many of the works of Salvador Dali may be seen in the world-renowned art museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. But there are also incredible virtual art experiences involving Dali’s collection in Figueres, Spain as well. Open since 1974, this is one of the online museums that is certain to impress any remote viewer. Paintings by Dali as well as sculptures, 3-D collages, and a variety of other unusual creations by the Spanish artist are on display. The 360-degree view of the museum provided is a wonderful way to truly grasp the genius of Dali.
- The Hermitage Museum – St. Petersburg, Russia
Speaking of St. Petersburg, the one in Russia is home to its own set of virtual art experiences currently. Built in 1764, the Hermitage is the 2nd largest and 8th most-visited art museum in the world. Therefore, it’s not surprising it too is among one of the best online museums to experience. It boasts over 60,000 art pieces for viewing including some by Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, and James Cox. Likewise, the virtual tour is extremely thorough enabling viewers to its 6 main building and 9 different exhibitions.
- Mauritshuis – The Hague, Netherlands
Dutch artists are world famous, especially for works created during the Golden Age of Art. Fortunately for us, the Mauritshuis is home to many of them including some by Vermeer, Rembrandt and Steen. The virtual art experiences offered are through Google Arts and Culture, creating an exceptional opportunity to see these works. In total, over 800 incredible works of art await you, making the Mauritshuis one of the best online museums around.
- The Louvre Palace – Paris, France
The Louvre itself is housed within the Louvre Palace, which was created in 1793. Recognized as one of the most famous art museums, it’s also now seen as one of the best online museums. And of course, Paris remains a top international destination. (For more top destinations for international travel, check out this Project Bold Life story.) Prior to the pandemic, nearly 10 million visitors flocked to the Louvre to see works like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Today, the museum is offering a variety of virtual art experiences that involve 7 different galleries. These range from works by Delacroix, Rembrandt and Tintoretto to Egyptian antiques and those in the recently rebuilt Galerie d’Apollon.
- Museo Nacional del Prado – Madrid, Spain
Believe it or not, this museum contains the single largest collection of Spanish art in the world. This includes over 8,000 drawings, 7,500 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, and nearly 5,000 prints. In terms of its virtual art experiences, viewers can get up close and personal with roughly 10,000 of these works of art. That includes pieces by Francisco De Goya and Diego Velazquez. The museum has been in existence since 1819, and therefore, contains one of the greatest collections of European art. Its virtual offerings make it one of the best online museums to consider for viewing.
- Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo – Sao Paulo, Brazil
Though located in Brazil, the Museo de Arte de Sao Paulo actually contains a tremendous collection of European art. It also boasts the finest art pieces from Latin America including Brazilian art, prints, and drawings. It even has a smaller collection of African and Asian art and relics. Though only in existence since 1947, the museum has over 8,000 works of art as well as one of the largest art libraries. Its virtual art experiences include access to 6 different online museums and galleries in its complex.
- National Museum of China – Beijing, China
This museum, despite opening in 2003, contains works of art that range over a 1.7-million-year span. In addition to pieces from the Qing Dynasty in the early 20th century, it has much older works as well. This includes the heaviest piece of ancient bronze ware known. Likewise, this museum is second only to the Louvre in terms of annual visits. In terms of its virtual art experiences, it currently offers two 360-degree viewing options. These include the Resplendence of the Tang Dynasty and Sunken Silver.
Online Museums Offer Opportunities to Grow
While these virtual art experiences aren’t precisely the same as visiting museums in person, they remain tremendous encounters. By taking the time to experience these online exhibits, we allow ourselves to expand our minds and invite new opportunities for growth. Art in general encourages us to take on new perspectives and explore new considerations. Thus, even though these are virtual experiences, they remain bold in nature simply due to the masterpieces included. (For more virtual experiences to check out, read this Project Bold Life story.) That’s why online museums are wonderful ways to stretch ourselves through unique experiences we might not have otherwise considered.
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