I don't go to the movies very often. I like movies, but usually I will only get around to going if one of my friends or family makes me go with them. So when my boyfriend said we had to go to the movies while I was visiting him in El Paso, I knew exactly which one we were going to see. The Monuments Men.
The cast of The Monuments Men
The movie is about a group of men who were tasked with finding and returning priceless works of art that were stolen during World War II. That brief description really doesn't do the men's task justice, but it does give a small look into the movie. These men risked their lives to find work that could never be reproduced.
Having been abroad to a number of European countries, I was especially interested in seeing which pieces of art that I had seen in person were included in the movie. Since I had seen the trailer on tv a few times, I knew that one of my favorites, the Ghent Altarpiece, was going to be in it. What I didn't know was that one of my other favorites, The Madonna and Child, was going to be such an integral part of the movie.
Seeing the Ghent Altarpiece in Saint Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent a few years ago was the highlight of my trip to Belgium. I had learned so much about it in class and seen so many pictures of it, I couldn't wait to get to see it in person. It did not disappoint and I feel so lucky that I was able to see it.
Viewing the Ghent Altarpiece was one of the main reasons that I wanted to go to Belgium. What I didn't realize was that I would also see the only sculpture of Michelangelo that left Italy during his lifetime. The Madonna of Bruges is so breathtaking. I stood and stared at it for as long as I could. I wanted to study it so I could remember it for the rest of my life.
The Madonna of Bruges, taken by my iPhone during my trip to Belgium
Seeing the Madonna of Bruges in the movie really hit the point home about how important the task of those Monuments Men was. I am so happy that they took their job seriously and stopped at nothing to find and return thousands of pieces of art. After seeing this movie, I will forever look at artwork differently. While looking at works of art, I am always in awe of the work that was done, but I rarely think about the journey that it might have gone on to get to where it is on display now.