Established in 1965, the Timken Museum of Art accommodates priceless works, together with European outdated masters, American artwork, and Russian icons.
Founding director Walter Ames established the museum to deal with the private assortment of heiresses Amy and Anne Putnam. It’s in a main location inside Balboa Park, one in every of Southern California’s most stunning parks, subsequent to the San Diego Museum of Art and the Botanical Building.
Its white, marble, and bronze exterior structure is one thing to admire additionally earlier than you stroll into this free attraction. But you must step inside to see the one Rembrandt in San Diego, Saint Bartholomew.
Five Highlights to See
Here are some highlights of the Timken Museum of Art:
- Rembrandt van Rijin, Saint Bartholomew (1657): This hanging portray of Saint Bartholomew, one of many twelve apostles holding a butcher knife (symbolic of his martyrdom), actually ought to be seen in individual.
- Luca Carlevarijs, The Piazzetta at Venice (1700-10): As a traveler, I recognize that this scene of Venice is essentially the identical at this time.
- Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Parable of the Sower (1557): A fantastic interpretation of the Biblical parable of the sower by one of many biggest Flemish painters of the sixteenth century. I like the colours.
- Francois Boucher, Lovers in a Park (1758): Boucher was the favourite artist of Louis XV’s mistress Madame de Pompadour, and this fashion of artwork is related to the king’s reign.
- Russian Icons: Timken’s assortment fills a small room. Each Russian icon tells a narrative of religion, a holy individual or an occasion, painted on a wood panel in step with the beliefs and requirements of the Orthodox Church.
Things to Know Before Visiting the Timken Museum of Art
There are a number of vital concerns to remember earlier than visiting the Timken Museum of Art. These embody the next.
Donation-BAsed Admission & Hours
The Timken Museum of Art is open from 10 a.m. to five p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday. The museum often closes for particular occasions, so regulate the web site to make sure you can enter.
The museum is exclusive in not requiring cost or tickets to enter. Donations are accepted in any quantity that friends really feel is acceptable. The really helpful quantity is $7.
The museum additionally affords memberships for frequent friends, which grants you 20% off on the present store, amongst different privileges.
Download The App
Timken has an ideal cellphone app that can assist you study extra about every portray. The app has an intuitive interface and a built-in scavenger hunt for the children!
Bring a pair of earbuds so as to take heed to the excursions as you stroll across the museum.
Free Guided Tours
Groups of adults and faculty teams can schedule free docent-guided excursions of the museum that final 45-60 minutes.
Visiting with Kids
Of course, accompanied children are welcome. Because it’s a small museum, you should test empty strollers and backpack carriers on the entrance desk. Strollers in use and entrance child carriers are okay.
You’ll must be positive you carry your purse in entrance of you as properly, not in your hip or your again.
Food and Beverages
Keep all meals and drinks sealed and hid in your bag, or go away them on the entrance desk.
Although the museum doesn’t have an eatery, yow will discover many restaurants and cafes in Balboa Park. Panama 66 (one in every of our favorites) is simply throughout the courtyard from the museum.
Gift Shop
The small present space on the entrance of the museum. You can discover distinctive handmade gadgets, subtle jewellery, and books on artwork and structure. All proceeds from the present store instantly assist the museum. The present store usually options one-of-a-kind presents through the holidays.
Parking
It’s free to park within the Balboa Park parking tons, and a tram circles by way of a few of them to shorten the stroll to and out of your automotive.
The closest tons are south of the Timken Museum, adjoining to the International Houses, San Diego Air & Space Museum. The Alcazar Lot might be the closest, however every other close by tons will do.
Fun Facts About the Timken Museum of Art
The Timken Museum of Art has an attention-grabbing historical past that even residents might not learn about.
Look out for docents who share tidbits of fascinating data concerning the assortment.
1. It Stands on a Historic Site
The constructing’s previous makes it a big cultural landmark.
The Timken Museum stands on the historic website of the previous Home Economy Building. Constructed in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition, the constructing stood in Balboa Park and served a number of makes use of till its demise in 1962.
2. Henry Timken Was a Hero
Henry Timken, who helped fund the museum, was a German immigrant and a Nineteenth-century inventor and entrepreneur.
Long story quick, he patented a tapered curler bearing for carriages that enabled wheels to show with much less friction. His invention rocked the transportation market, and by 1923, a whopping ninety % of the nation’s curler bearings got here from his firm.
The Timken Museum was one in every of many philanthropic endeavors that Henry Timken funded, and his legacy lives on by way of this cultural gem.
3. It’s Comprised of The Putnam Collection
Timken Museum’s artwork assortment is generally because of the work acquired by sisters Amy and Anne Putnam and, subsequently, their basis. However, this was solely the final gesture in an extended legacy of nameless donations.
The sisters donated artistic endeavors to the San Diego Museum of Art all through the Forties and different outstanding museums nationwide. In reality, the Timken Museum of Art was established to convey items to San Diego that had been on mortgage overseas.
4. You Can Attend Neat Events
I’m an enormous fan of checking museum calendars to see what’s on faucet. During my final go to to the Timken, you possibly can join a flower arranging class (which has since offered out on account of excessive demand).
You may join digital talks and excursions.
5. The Museum Gives Back
Timken is concerned in lots of native charitable causes. The museum affords artwork courses to girls and boys incarcerated in juvenile detention.
It additionally works with veterans therapeutic from psychological and bodily accidents on the VA San Diego Healthcare System.
Why We Love the Timken Museum of Art
Balboa Park is on the coronary heart of San Diego’s cultural hub, and it’s so, really easy to step into the Timken Museum of Art for slightly bit to see some really particular work. It’s subsequent door to the San Diego Museum of Art and adjoining to the Botanical Building and Lily Pond.
The app offers perception into every portray that provides great worth to your expertise. You will certainly study one thing new.
And, sure, it’s small however why not step inside? It’s free to enter.