My girlfriend and I visited the museum and whilst the art is interesting in places, the staff left a bad taste in our mouth.The maxim "Innocent until proven guilty" clearly does not hold true in this building. The staff would follow us around sneakily, peering at us around corners which I found to be highly annoying and rude. The staff, with exception of the receptionist, did not speak a word of English, so there was no chance to ask questions about the art they thought we wanted to steal or tamper with.I would not recommend this to anyone, unless they wanted to get a taste of what it is like to live under a dictatorship.
The National Museum of Art is the main museum of art, where you can have a retrospective of Romanian art, from the religious to the modern art, from Curtea dead Arges church painting to Constantin Brancusi. Also, there is a gallery of oriental art that worth visited and an European art gallery. I believe it's a good museum, but it can become better, if the staff will become more interested in revealing to the public the huge collection from their deposits, if they will create a more interactive program and update their view on the art museum.Anyway, it's a must see if you come to Bucharest.
The former Royal Palace of Romania is today the home of the greatest art collection in this country.
The National Art Museum is housed In an elegant Palace built for and occupied by the Romanian Royal family, before the communists forced them to abdicate and leave the country. If you have seen the major world museums and keep thinking of those and making comparisons, this one will not impress you much. Yet, I found the building itself very interesting, the many elegant marble stairs and the tall arched windows truly palatial. The European collection has a few masters, but not enough pieces for any of them to make for a true experience in what makes an artist uniquely exceptional. So, you'll see a few El Greco, Pieter Breughel the Elder, Lucas Cranach, but no more than two to three-four of each. The Romanian art is in a separate wing and is superb. Paintings by their greatest artists, with portraits, scenes of historical moments, traditional customs, landscapes, still nature, in brilliant compositions, all are works of exceptional talents, though so much less known in the world art. Pay attention to names like Grigorescu, Pallady, Petrascu. Do not miss a few works by the very famous Brancusi, whose sculptures are displayed by the most famous world museums. If you have the time and passion for art, it's well worth looking up this museum, for there is enough beauty waiting to be discovered.
The excellent grade is earned by the display and descriptions of icons and other church art from the 15th century onwards. As you move up the floors, the art dwindles to sub fusc French impressionism etc which has little aesthetic merit to my untutored eyes. But do not miss the Church art - truly splendid!!
Take at least 3-4 hours to visit the museum. It's very big and there's a chance of getting really frustrated if you do not have the time to enjoy it. You can buy joint tickets for this museum and the Museum of Art Collections which is amazing and make a day out of it. Just be sure to start early so you have enough time to visit both.
Photos w/ extra fee. Art was okay. Nothing too spectacular. The museum is quite large, so one may still find something interesting.
Very nice to see such a beautifl and comprehensive art collection in one place. The fee is very low and you get to see probably all major Roamnian art styles and artists. Very impressed with this museum. Easily spend a few hours exploring the place. Beautiful building too.
lot's of things to see if u are an art lover. beautiful paintings and building. Close to the Athene-um
it is one of the most beautiful buildings in town . the visit was very pleasant, i have seen a beautiful exposition of art , and the price was not hi at all .