Established in 1965, the Timken Museum of Art incorporates invaluable works, together with European outdated masters, American artwork, and Russian icons.
Founding director Walter Ames established the museum to deal with the non-public assortment of heiresses Amy and Anne Putnam. It’s in a chief location inside Balboa Park, one in all Southern California’s most lovely 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 need to 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 placing portray of Saint Bartholomew, one of many twelve apostles holding a butcher knife (symbolic of his martyrdom), actually needs to be seen in particular person.
- Luca Carlevarijs, The Piazzetta at Venice (1700-10): As a traveler, I admire that this scene of Venice is basically the identical as we speak.
- Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Parable of the Sower (1557): A lovely interpretation of the Biblical parable of the sower by one of many best Flemish painters of the sixteenth century. I really 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 model 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 particular person or an occasion, painted on a picket panel according to 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 bear in mind earlier than visiting the Timken Museum of Art. These embrace 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 control 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 company really feel is suitable. The advisable quantity is $7.
The museum additionally gives memberships for frequent company, which grants you 20% off on the reward store, amongst different privileges.
Download The App
Timken has a fantastic cellphone app that will help you be taught extra about every portray. The app has an intuitive interface and a built-in scavenger hunt for the youngsters!
Bring a pair of earbuds to be able to take heed to the excursions as you stroll across the museum.
Free Guided Tours
Groups of adults and college teams can schedule free docent-guided excursions of the museum that final 45-60 minutes.
Visiting with Kids
Of course, accompanied youngsters are welcome. Because it’s a small museum, you should verify empty strollers and backpack carriers on the entrance desk. Strollers in use and entrance child carriers are okay.
You’ll should 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 depart them on the entrance desk.
Although the museum doesn’t have an eatery, you’ll find many restaurants and cafes in Balboa Park. Panama 66 (one in all our favorites) is simply throughout the courtyard from the museum.
Gift Shop
The small reward space on the entrance of the museum. You can discover distinctive handmade gadgets, refined jewellery, and books on artwork and structure. All proceeds from the reward store instantly assist the museum. The reward store typically options one-of-a-kind presents throughout the holidays.
Parking
It’s free to park within the Balboa Park parking heaps, and a tram circles by means of a few of them to shorten the stroll to and out of your automobile.
The closest heaps 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 heaps 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 brief, 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 p.c of the nation’s curler bearings got here from his firm.
The Timken Museum was one in all many philanthropic endeavors that Henry Timken funded, and his legacy lives on by means of this cultural gem.
3. It’s Comprised of The Putnam Collection
Timken Museum’s artwork assortment is generally due to the work acquired by sisters Amy and Anne Putnam and, subsequently, their basis. However, this was solely the final gesture in a protracted legacy of nameless donations.
The sisters donated artworks to the San Diego Museum of Art all through the Forties and different distinguished 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 bought out on account of excessive demand).
You may also join digital talks and excursions.
5. The Museum Gives Back
Timken is concerned in lots of native charitable causes. The museum gives artwork lessons 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 a bit of bit to see some actually particular work. It’s subsequent door to the San Diego Museum of Art and adjoining to the Botanical Building and Lily Pond.
The app gives perception into every portray that provides super worth to your expertise. You will certainly be taught one thing new.
And, sure, it’s small however why not step inside? It’s free to enter.