Museum Of Fine Arts

The Boston Museum of Fine Arts just introduced this and I tried to use it (end of November 2010) in the new Art of The Americas wing of the museum. It has a touch screen, supposed to work like an I-phone, but its design is non-intuitive. Where is the Help section? You will have to remember, from the 1-minute barrage of verbal instructions at time of rental, that it is 109 on the number pad. How do you get to the number pad? From selecting the language to use. How do you get to the language selection? Maybe from the Menu button. Where is that? The Menu button does not lead to a site map. As for the utility of the guide, it is scant relative to what is in any given gallery. Finding the little headset icon with a stop number ? the signal that relevant information is available on the device ? next to only a few works of art in room after room, I counted the number of works of art in three galleries, and the number of those that displayed the icon. The latter was 3% of the former. Moreover, access to that information is only available in the boundaries of a given ?tour? on the guide. If you unintentionally evoke the Stop Number screen through an inapt route, even though the work of art has the headset icon and a number, and you can tap in its number, a message will appear that this information ?is not available on this tour.? When you do reach viable entries, the comments range from interpretive interesting (as for Fog Warning by Winslow Homer) to dull calling-attention-to (as for Drugstore by Edward Hopper). I voiced some of these criticisms to the museum staffer when I returned the electronic guide, and she said (sympathetically) ?They?re working on it.? Next to me, another museum visitor was expressing her own dissatisfaction with this device to another staffer, who responded ?They?re working on it.? In contrast the new wing is attractive and the collections displayed in engaging ways. Enjoy them without this inadequate contraption. more

The Boston Museum of Fine Arts just introduced this and I tried to use it (end of November 2010) in the new Art of The Americas wing of the museum. It has a touch screen, supposed to work like an I-phone, but its design is non-intuitive. Where is the Help section? You will have to remember, from the 1-minute barrage of verbal instructions at time of rental, that it is 109 on the number pad. How do you get to the number pad? From selecting the language to use. How do you get to the language selection? Maybe from the Menu button. Where is that? The Menu button does not lead to a site map. As for the utility of the guide, it is scant relative to what is in any given gallery. Finding the little headset icon with a stop number – the signal that relevant information is available on the device – next to only a few works of art in room after room, I counted the number of works of art in three galleries, and the number of those that displayed the icon. The latter was 3% of the former. Moreover, access to that information is only available in the boundaries of a given ‘tour’ on the guide. If you unintentionally evoke the Stop Number screen through an inapt route, even though the work of art has the headset icon and a number, and you can tap in its number, a message will appear that this information “is not available on this tour.” When you do reach viable entries, the comments range from interpretive interesting (as for Fog Warning by Winslow Homer) to dull calling-attention-to (as for Drugstore by Edward Hopper). I voiced some of these criticisms to the museum staffer when I returned the electronic guide, and she said (sympathetically) “They’re working on it.” Next to me, another museum visitor was expressing her own dissatisfaction with this device to another staffer, who responded “They’re working on it.” In contrast the new wing is attractive and the collections displayed in engaging ways. Enjoy them without this inadequate contraption. more

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best best best more

I love museums and have been to many, and Boston's Museum of Fine Arts may very well b may favorite. The structure itself is simply fabulou... more

Nice place to visit The advantages and enjoyable aspects of the Museum of Fine Arts are many: it is open 7 days a week (late on Wednesday, T... more

When I was a grad student a couple of years ago at Northeastern I would step across the street (literally) to the MFA on Wed nights (voluntary pay for admission). Been there at least 50 times. The Japanese swords and Egyptian artifacts are the best in the world outside of their native countries. The MFA sponsored several early 1900s digs in Egypt. Been around the globe since then and the masters paintings will rival any collection in the world such as the Louvre and Hermitage. Early america displays will blow your mind if your are into that period. This museum is massive, would say it took a solid 12 hours for the first once through. Parking is right next to building or street. And then you still want to come back.... Pros: Ambiance, collection, architecture Cons: Huge building, street traffic more

When I was a grad student a couple of years ago at Northeastern I would step across the street (literally) to the MFA on Wed nights (voluntary pay for admission). Been there at least 50 times. The Japanese swords and Egyptian artifacts are the best in the world outside of their native countries. The MFA sponsored several early 1900s digs in Egypt. Been around the globe since then and the masters paintings will rival any collection in the world such as the Louvre and Hermitage. Early america displays will blow your mind if your are into that period. This museum is massive, would say it took a solid 12 hours for the first once through. Parking is right next to building or street. And then you still want to come back.... Pros: Ambiance, collection, architecture Cons: Huge building, street traffic more

The admission price is pretty expensive, as are the food prices in the restaurant, but this is to be expected with a world class museum. Beyond fascinating are the asian arts and egyptian artifacts. This museum has such an extensive impressionist collection, that the entire Monet exhibit was uprooted to Las Vegas and featured in the Bellagio art gallery for almost a year. Spectacular! The best part? It is free for students any day of the week! more

Maybe it's because this is the first art museum I went to as a kid, but I love the MFA. I've been going there off and on for over 15 years n... more

The collection at the MFA is astounding - I didn't think that such a variety of pieces could be found right in the heart of back bay, but th... more

The MFA's a wonderful place to wander through for an afternoon. Maybe you won't see all of it (I spent four hours there last weekend and certainly didn't), but it's great to explore and see what's what and escape the mundane outside world. The Asian exhibits are top-notch, including a wonderful mock Japanese Buddhist shrine, designed to give a sense of how the Buddhist statues would look in the real world. When you consider that the $15 price of admission buys you two trips within 30 days, it's even a real steal - or a super steal, when the $15 becomes a variable contribution on Wednesday nights. Pros: Inexpensive Cons: Crowded, Hard to park more

The MFA's a wonderful place to wander through for an afternoon. Maybe you won't see all of it (I spent four hours there last weekend and certainly didn't), but it's great to explore and see what's what and escape the mundane outside world. The Asian exhibits are top-notch, including a wonderful mock Japanese Buddhist shrine, designed to give a sense of how the Buddhist statues would look in the real world. When you consider that the $15 price of admission buys you two trips within 30 days, it's even a real steal - or a super steal, when the $15 becomes a variable contribution on Wednesday nights. Pros: Inexpensive Cons: Crowded, Hard to park more

Pick the category that you want to see. You can't do the Museum of Fine Arts in a day. Great for schools studying Greek and/or Egyptian history. Pros: Quality experience, Variety Cons: No parking, Take the T more

Pick the category that you want to see. You can't do the Museum of Fine Arts in a day. Great for schools studying Greek and/or Egyptian history. Pros: Quality experience, Variety Cons: No parking, Take the T more

I have been to the MFA many times, and would go many more. The collection is great, and the special exhibits never cease to amaze me. Although the special exhibits are entirely too crowded and something needs to be done about that. Its makes it very hard to see the paintings and enjoy them when there are large crowds all trying to veiw the same painting. more

I have been to the MFA many times, and would go many more. The collection is great, and the special exhibits never cease to amaze me. Although the special exhibits are entirely too crowded and something needs to be done about that. Its makes it very hard to see the paintings and enjoy them when there are large crowds all trying to veiw the same painting. more

The MFA is where I go to relax. The atmosphere is calm and not pretentious. The exhibits, cafes, and store are all perfect. more

The MFA is where I go to relax. The atmosphere is calm and not pretentious. The exhibits, cafes, and store are all perfect. more

The MFA is one of Boston's greatest treasures! It is a great place to go for a date, because whatever you see there, you can be sure that it will promote discussion -- and you can learn a lot about another person by their response to art! Also, the cafe is a great place to go for lunch, even if you don't feel like going to any exhibits. And the best cheap date in town is to go down to the cafeteria (lower level), get a great lunch and sit outside if weather permits. Pros: art promotes discussi, great place to eat, challenges your brain Cons: free night is crowded more