Last year about this time, I praised the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for circulating a press release, with photos, of some of the paintings and sculptures in its collection that publications could use to illustrate Christmas.
I hoped the practice would spread:
What better way to illustrate the birth of Christ than with depictions of the scene that occupied so many great artists, many of whose works can be found in the nation’s museums? Let’s spread the idea next year to other cities.
Back in October, the Nelson-Atkins again circulated its list, with illustrations and a paragraph of explication. One of the works, by Petrus Christus, is at right.
But I haven’t been the recipient of any others… alas.
It doesn’t seem to have spread. So let me broaden the suggestion: publications need art — good art. Maybe they won’t run a religious work now as frequently as they used to. But museums have plenty of secular art — snowy scenes, for example — that would also work at this time of year, when there’s often a news drought.
I’m headed off for a white Christmas later today, but I’m leaving a post or two that will be published while I’m gone — so please check back.
And merry, merry to you all.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art