Before the Masterpieces

An intriguing show of new works along with the sketches, studies, reference photos and notes created in preparation for the finished paintings. Studies can help an artist plan composition, color choices, light and perspective. More spontaneous than most finished works, studies can be dynamic, show the artist’s thought process and often differ greatly from the finally presented paintings. For instance, Michelangelo’s study for the Libyan Sibyl on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is based on a male model while the finished painting is of a woman. This exhibition gives the viewer a look at the work and experiments that lead to the art we see completed and framed.