Sister Wendy Beckett, the world-famous “art nun,” offers her unique and personal guide to one of the most extraordinary collections of Old Master, Impressionist, Modern and Asian art in America. "Sister Wendy At The Norton Simon Museum" airs on public television stations nationwide beginning July 2012.
Sister Wendy explores the Norton Simon Museum of Art in Pasadena, California which bears the hallmark of one private collector, its founder Norton Simon.
Connect
Norton Simon Museum is on Facebook, and you can follow @NortonSimon on Twitter.
The Norton Simon Museum, home to more than 1,000 works, is known around the world as one of the most remarkable private art collections assembled. The museum features impressionist and post-impressionist collections, with paintings by Manet, Renoir, Monet, Degas, van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and Cézanne.
In addition, there are 20th-century works by Picasso, Braque, Matisse, Klee, Kandinsky and the German expressionists. Complementing the Western art is a collection of Asian sculpture from India and Southeast Asia spanning a period of 2,000 years.
In her trademark manner, Sister Wendy offers her own inimitable reflections on some of the collection’s most famous works and some of its lesser-known gems. She points out her personal favorites and reflects on Norton Simon’s choices.
From portraits by Rembrandt and van Gogh to exquisite Asian sculptures, still lifes by Zurbarán to modern sculpture by Barbara Hepworth, Sister Wendy highlights the cultural and artistic significance of the pieces.
In her commentary, she brings to life great works such as Edgar Degas’ famous pastel, "Waiting" (1880-1182) and Peter Paul Rubens’ masterpiece, "The Holy Women at the Sepulchre" (c.1611-1614). The program not only explores these works of art, but also provides fascinating insight into Norton Simon, the collector.
This is Sister Wendy’s personal tour, rather than a comprehensive look at the Museum’s collection. Yet the documentary also reflects on the depth of the collection and includes montages illustrating more works of art than can be covered by Sister Wendy.
