Google Art Project
These days Google is synonymous with the world of search. But scratch the surface a little deeper and there are a huge amount of side projects that are quite literally staggering. One of which that is particularly of interest to the Mass Culturegang is the Google Art Project.
Google has used their street-view technology to record, film and photograph 17 of the worlds biggest museums & many of their art work.
Some of the Museums & Galleries represented in the
Google Art Project
- The Tait London
- The Met in New York
- Van Gogh Amsterdam
- The Hermitage in Russia
- Uffizi in Florence
Google’s high definition video camera leads you on a walk-through these galleries (much like some real estate websites). When you come across some artwork you’re interested in, you simply click on the image and then you zoom in to a level you’re comfortable with. I dare say much of the art is better viewed on the Google Art website than actually being in the museum fighting the crowds.
Most of us would be lucky to travel to 5 of these museums in a lifetime. Yet here we can view some of the world’s most famous paintings from anywhere in the world for nothing.
I imagine education departments the world over would be in love with Google Art Project. University students studying art history can actually get up close and see the old masters works whilst sitting in the classroom. You can literally zoom in so close you can view the tiniest of details, brush strokes & nuances.
You may even be able to use some of the painters techniques in your own works.
If you are a lover of the arts then you must love this new website. The more people that support the Google Art Project the more they will be tempted to expand their collection so smaller museums around the world might be included down the track.
This has to be one of the nicest uses of technology for the masses.
About Robin Jennings
