National Museum of Asian Art (Freer & Sackler Galleries)
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National Museum of Asian Art - the Peacock Room by Whistler
Description
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art consists of the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. They contain art from various Asian regions as well as the Islamic world, the ancient Near East and Egypt and some American Art. The time span is from the Neolithic to modern eras. Collections in the Freer Gallery include, inter alia, Korean pottery and porcelain, Japanese folding screens, Buddhist sculptures, Persian manuscripts, Chinese paintings, and ceramics. The Peacock Room by American artist Whistler is also there. In the Sackler Gallery, collections include Near Eastern metalware and ceramics, South and Southeast Asian sculpture, Chinese jade and bronze pieces, Chinese lacquerware and paintings, and Persian and Islamic paintings and manuscripts.
Access & Transport
The museum is on the southern side of the National Mall, next to the Smithsonian Castle and the African Art Museum. The Smithsonian metro station (Blue, Orange and Silver lines) is next to it and the L'Enfant train station is 5mins walk away. There are also bus services along Independence Ave SW. Accessibility info: https://asia.si.edu/visit/accessibility/
Instructions & Recommendations
This activity is easily combined with a walk along the National Mall and the following museums: African Art and Natural History.
Environmental & Social
No environmental data available - so we deem this activity marginally negative because of electricity consumption (cooling/heating, lighting). Helps spread culture and the arts but some unfortunate association with the US opioid 'epidemic'.
Conclusion
Not the most impressive of the museums along the National Mall of Washington but still very much worth a visit for every art enthusiast. It would probably be considered a must-see in most cities in North America.
Key positive
Plenty of impressive artwork
Free admission and centrally located
Key negative
Ethical aspects around provenance of artefact / artwork and donors
Suitability
Accessible. Children less than 12yrs old may not be very interested.
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
August 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 20m
est. visit time:1h 30m
Monday10:00 - 17:30
Tuesday10:00 - 17:30
Wednesday10:00 - 17:30
Thursday10:00 - 17:30
Friday10:00 - 17:30
Saturday10:00 - 17:30
Sunday10:00 - 17:30