Took a bike ride over to MFA after lunch today to see the new wing. I was totally blown away. The open space, the light, the paint on the walls, the doors, the floor, all were amazing. And the same art that was in the old now glows in this new space. John Singer Sargent, John Singleton Copley both get big space and the difference is profound. Those halibuts in Winslow Homer’s boat never looked more forlorn as the fog rolls in.
Upstairs Edward Hopper has two (EXLAX and woman looking out window in Brooklyn) , Henry Fitz Lane has tons in two different locations. One gallery he shares with Martin Johnson Heade then downstairs are boats and more Henry Fitz.
Completely overwhelming. I had to go into the old part up to room 255 to check out the Monet, Manet, Van Gogh’s and Renoir’s just to get my bearings. Beautiful paintings but the room seemed so drab after viewing the new wing. And the lighting just plain sucked compared to the new wing. I hope they get some paint and some new light bulbs for the old part.
This new wing is going to be my favorite place to hang out on cold dark winter days.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Yes , the new galleries show off the MFA collections with flair as well as groupings of work from the same period . Its an art history lesson . The great hall is a 6 story glass box that is a work of art in itself . The space is so vast you cannot hear the many people dining in there . There is no place for the background chatter to bounce off of . Its strangly quiet .
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After five years I have found it is a great place to have lunch but you need to get there by 11:15 or you’ll be waiting for a table. Very popular.
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