It’s not always easy to make the time to see all of the art exhibits that are so abundant in Hampton Roads. Since my time was limited (and seems to shrink day by day), I really wanted to see something that would make an impression and remind me of how much I love visiting our local art museums and centers. I chose to make my excursion to the Chrysler Museum to view their newest exhibition, From Goya to Sorolla, and hoped that it would live up to my expectations. After all, when you put together the high standards of the Chrysler Museum and a collection that has the phrase “masters” associated with it, I would expect it to be excellent. Thankfully, I was not disappointed.

The From Goya to Sorolla collection is an assortment of Spanish art that is owned by the Hispanic Society of America in Manhattan and consists of over 60 pieces created by 19th and 20th-century Spanish master painters.  The show is on display not only to share the genius of these particular artists, but as a celebration of the Hispanic Society of America’s 100th anniversary.  The collection includes an array of portraits and landscapes and depicts techniques from Classicism to Impressionism.  The pinnacle of the exhibit is obviously the pieces created by Francisco Goya and Joaquin Sorolla y Batista, hence the name of the collection.

While there were several pieces included in the compilation that were beautiful and appealing, it was the impressionistic-style paintings by Joaquin Sorolla y Batista that really captured my attention and imagination.  Sorolla’s depiction of his subjects awash in sunlight is absolutely awe inspiring.  In the piece, 'Louis Comfort Tiffany', Tiffany is wearing a white suit amid a garden of colorful, vibrant flowers.  When looking closely at the white suit, you can immediately see a whole range of pale colors that make up the fabric and folds of the suit.  Sorolla was noted as stating that nothing was purely white, and he proves this idea distinctively in Tiffany’s portrait.  I moved between examining the detail of the suit at a close distance to stepping further back for an overall impression of the painting several times. With the white suit juxtaposed against the vigorous backdrop of the flowers, Sorolla created a compelling and memorable image.  His other paintings that are also on display are just as amazing and deserve the same recognition as 'Louis Comfort Tiffany'.  Instead of telling you about them, though, I’ll just let you experience them.  Words will never describe the beauty of these paintings. 

As a side note, for those of you who take the time out of your busy schedule to enjoy the current exhibits at the Chrysler Museum, I highly suggest you save the Goya to Sorolla collection for last (excluding their permanent collection.)  The Spanish collection was my first stop and when I wandered through the rest of the current exhibitions, I was definitely underwhelmed.  I can attribute this specifically to the Envisioning Virginia 1587-1784: Early Maps of the New World exhibit.  While I’m sure that these maps have a pertinent historical significance and are works of art, they just don’t hold up against the other collections.  I wish I had visited them first in order to give them a fair chance, but since they were close to my last stop, they were just a bunch of old maps for me. 

I’m very gratified that I made the time to see the From Goya to Sorolla exhibit.  It’s inspired me once again to take the time – even if it is only a short amount – to explore Hampton Road’s many galleries and museums.  The collection is on display at the Chrysler Museum in Nofolk until June 10.  For more information on this and other collections at the Chrysler Museum, call (757) 664-6000 or go to www.chrysler.org.