Here’s that little tale I promised you in my previous post:
Once upon a time, many years ago, before Lee became that celebrated artworld superhero, CultureGrrl, she was visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art just for pleasure, wandering dreamily among the Cézannes.
Suddenly, a school group trooped in, accompanied by a teacher who could not possibly keep an eye on everyone. The only guard in the vicinity was standing watch in an adjoining gallery.
Along came an enterprising young lad, who discovered an ideal surface against which to rest his worksheet while filling in its blanks: Portrait of Madame Cézanne, which, at 24 3/8 x 20 1/8 inches, was the perfect size to double as a clipboard.
Only one person observed his raising paper and pencil towards the paint.
“NO-O-O-O-O-O!!!” Lee cried out in horror.
So today, if you visit Gallery 164, you can still gaze at the Post-Impressionist’s contemplative muse, unblemished. I always visit her. And she always thanks me.