Those clever scamps at Google have done it again, especially for those of us whose age and diminished physical capacities have crimped our travels but not our imaginations. Google has worked out relationships with seventeen of the world's museums - from the Hermitage in St Petersburg to the Museum of Modern Art in New York - that allow you to walk the galleries and study selected paintings close up, and I do mean "close up."
The first time I looked at Van Gogh's "Starry Night," I was impressed; as I was able to "move closer" to the painting, I was amazed because I could see the individual brush strokes more clearly than I ever could in the museum.
I was gobsmacked (one of my favorite English slang words) and - dare I say it? - moved by this experience, remembering those years in my life when my hip was going downhill and visiting a museum, any museum, was like climbing a mountain. And if I could get to one of my favorite Vermeers at The National Gallery in London, I needed to sit down a lot.
The museums are producing videos to increase your appreciation of the experience, and over time, no doubt more tantalizing goodies will arrive on the site.
If you're about to travel to one of the cities where Google's Art Project has a museum or two, this program is ideal for having a quick look to see how you might want to spend your time in the collection.
You can even create your own gallery of favorites, and as arrangements are made with other museums, your experience is likely to broaden and your appreciation to deepen.
Yes, I know it's not the same as really being there, but with this approach, there's no searching for a viewing spot in a crowded gallery, no need to suss out where the bathroom is, no need to purchase a guide, no need to hunt for a place to sit.
Just click here to start your art adventure.
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