by Lucas David
Nestled in the heart of the city of San Francisco, the Legion of Honor museum is structured almost like an art project in and of itself. Spreading before a fountain and an abstract metal statue is a lush field, bordered by a curtain of trees and greenery. On the other side of the fountain and statue is the museum itself. Upon entering the museum, I was greeted by one of the Thinker statues, and two rows of large marble columns on either side. A glass triangle much resembling a miniature version of the Louvre is behind the Thinker, and at the end of the entry area the front doors are behind a short stairway.
In the past, the LoH has exhibited art from Pompei, the ancient city that was destroyed as a result of the ash from a volcanic eruption. The museum is the main source of impressionism and post-impressionism in the San Francisco Bay Area as well. When I went to review the place, I found LOH is currently showcasing art by Sandro Botticelli, an italian artist from the fourteen to fifteen hundreds. Amongst the drawings was a video that shared a painting I have dubbed, “The First Selfie”. “The First Selfie,” better known as “The Adoration of the Magi,” is a portrait of the wise men offering the biblical figure Jesus, or the Messiah, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. I call it, “The First Selfie,” because Botticelli adds himself into the scene, looking directly and intently at the viewer.
The cafe offers high quality food, but is very expensive, and unless your child enjoys portobello or smoked salmon and potato galette, then they will wind up with an expensive grilled cheese. I recommend bringing lunch, and enjoying coffee and dessert in the cafe, especially the chocolate raspberry tart. There aren’t many restaurants nearby the museum, but I noticed a casual Mel’s Diner on the way there that I took note of for my next visit.
I highly recommend stopping by the museum for a visit, especially since San Francisco is a beautiful city, filled with so many museums I look forward to enjoying, before going home to subject them to harsh (but accurate) criticism. One of the nice things about the Legion of Honor museum is it’s way of cycling through exhibitions like I mentioned before, but it also means that the Botticelli sketches will not stay for long, and their normal home is in Italy. It’s an hour of driving from where I’m typing to the Legion of Honor museum, but it’s a 12 hour flight from here to Italy, so don’t wait! The exhibition ends February 11th, 2024.
The Lighthouse 