![Le Musée d'Orsay, 25 January 2016, Paris, France [detail]. Photo: Bruno DE HOGUES/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images](https://images.prismic.io/barnebys/cf2a67b6-1147-47b1-8012-e73150aab210_Cover.jpg?auto=compress,format)
As those inside the UK mentally prepare for, and accept, the coronavirus lockdown, people are scrambling to search for ways to keep themselves occupied, cultured and curious.
For those dreaming of being swept to the exhibition halls of Paris, New York, Rome, Amsterdam, and even our own capital, Barnebys has you covered. Here are the 9 best virtual exhibitions to view from the comfort of your living rooms and bedrooms. Let’s start wandering.
9. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
While famous for his embodiment of the myth of the tortured artist, Vincent van Gogh is also known for his swirling brushstrokes, vivid colours and unique perspectives. You can take a virtual visit to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, which is home to 200 of the artist’s paintings.
8. The Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Found on our capital’s doorstep, in the heart of South Kensington, The V&A is a leading authority on the world’s history of art and design. Known for their unique exhibitions, impressive exhibition designs and incredible collection, the museum boasts a number of online exhibitions.
7. Guggenheim, Bilbao
Though many visit the Guggenheim in Bilbao for its Frank Gehry-designed titanium and steel building, the museum’s array of modern and contemporary artworks isn’t too shabby either. An art destination with an incredibly distinct space, the virtual pilgrimage to this museum makes life that little bit easier.
6. The Frick Collection, New York
An eminent museum and research centre, The Frick Collection is distinguished for its Old Master paintings, European sculptures and collection of decorative arts. If you’re a fan of Bellini, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Gainsborough, Goya or Whistle, this more traditional virtual exhibition is the one for you.
5. Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Jump across to the States’ west coast (or to the other end of your sofa) to find Los Angeles’ famous J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center, which features works of art dating between 8th and 21st centuries from all across the world: Europe, Asia, America; paintings, drawings, sculptures, manuscripts, decorative arts, photography – you name it, the Getty’s got it.
4. Bauhaus Foundation, Dessau
Upon its founding in 1919, the Bauhaus movement revolutionised international modern art and design, from architectural achievements and furniture innovations to developments in fine art and craft textiles. Though the school was only open until 1933, it remains synonymous with groundbreaking artistic innovations. The museum in Dessau, which housed the school between 1925 and 1932, is an artistic-scientific foundation with the mission of preserving and passing on the ideas and themes of the Bauhaus.
3. La Galleria Nazionale, Rome
Rome’s La Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea is home to 19th- and 20th-century Italian art and design. If you’re a fan of futurism – Giacomo Balla and Umberto Boccioni – Surrealism, Scuola Romana, Pop Art or Arte Povera, the museum boasts 20,000 works appropriate for you.
2. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, South Korea
Though a physical visit to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in South Korea would take you to the museum’s sites across Deoksugung, Seoul and Cheongju, here you’ll find everything in one place. Photography, print, design, sculpture and installation from an international smorgasbord of artists, this virtual tour provides an inspiring array of works to view and admire.
1. Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Finally, we end this virtual trip to a stop in France’s capital, to the Musée d’Orsay on the banks of the Seine and opposite the Tuileries Gardens. The museum itself is housed in the former Orsay railway station, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, and displays a collection of art from 1848-1914. Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, and Seurat… Impressionist and post-Impressionist lovers, this one’s for you.
Of course nothing is quite the same as seeing art up close and in real life, and we always recommend you view your favourite pieces in person, but perhaps these nine museums can form an art bucket list – or spark the inspiration to start or build upon your very own collection.
