How does a work of art diminish when put in a musuem?

Answer 1

Maybe because now it's in the company of so many other great works, so it doesn't stand out as much. There are many gorgeous and classic works of art that great works get lost. The Virgin on the Rocks is in the Louvre, for example. It's a great work of art, but it pales in comparison to the Mona Lisa. It's like being a small fish in a big pond, instead of a big fish in a small pond.

Answer 2

Some works of art gain by being held in a museum collection, where they are seen and appreciated by greater numbers of people and the arts community becomes more aware of and appreciative of the artist.

Others diminish because:

1. They are poorly presented and interpreted (happens a LOT)

2. They are taken out of commercial ciruclation and market values no longer apply (not really much of an issue unless you are one of those who think only private persons should own artworks, artifacts, etc.)

3. They are not displayed but put into storage and forgotten - in that circumstance, it is not the economic value that matters but the contribution the work makes to knowledge and appreciation of art and related topics

4. The museum is not readily accessible by numbers of people (also an issue)

5. The work of art does not properly belong to the museum - this is the case of many items taken from one country and kept at a museum in another

In the last matter, there is a good and proper debate whether some works of art have been "looted" or "stolen," diminishing the cultural patrimony of the nation where the items originated. Indeed in present times this continues when there is no reasonable and compelling circumstance to ship the works away from their land of origin. However, there have been many good arguments made that in centuries past, the transport of art objects to the Berlin Museum, the Louvre, the London British Museum, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, and other locations has preserved the works. Further those arguments are supported by the extremely large audiences who have enjoyed access to the works, learned to understand them and appreciate the cultures from which they came, and as a consequence contributed to the protection and preservation of works of art in those originating cultures.

Answer 3

When a painting gets exposed to foreign elements, it will eventually deteriorate. Museums are actually some of the best places to house paintings and artwork because they are so careful with temperatures, humidity, light, sound, etc. A piece of art is like any material object, say, your favorite jeans-
Eventually no matter how much you love them, they fade, get worn out, and get that annoying hole in the crotch....
Museums just preserve art the best they can. Think of them as perpetual favorite jean savers. :)

Answer 4

Well, because the meuseums have windows at times it deteriorates the art work if it is exposed to sun light that's why the national museum of art in DC has no windows.

Answer 5

In the same way that a wild animal diminishes when put in a zoo.
Brilliant question!

Answer 6

Who says it diminishes? It is certainly given a better opportunity for others to enjoy it than if it was in private hands