Google Art (Week 7)

Google Earth Is Zooming In On Spain's Art
January 13, 2009
Associated Press

Google Earth has partnered with Spain's Prado Museum to bring images of its major works to people all over the world. A total of 14 of the museum's paintings will be available for global viewing. This is the first project of its kind--uniting an art museum with the world.

"There is no better way to pay tribute to the great masters of the history of art than to universalize knowledge of their works using optimum conditions," Prado director Miguel Zugaza said.

The images are now available online, which show details that are barely noticeable to the human eye when standing in front of the painting. They are 1,400 times as clear as what could be seen using a 10-megapixel camera.

"With Google Earth technology it is possible to enjoy these magnificent works in a way never previously possible, obtaining details impossible to appreciate through first-hand observation," Google Spain director Javier Rodriguez Zapatero said.

I have been to this museum and viewed these paintings. Though I was only in eighth grade and I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have, I don't think viewing these works on a computer screen could ever replace first-hand observation. As fantastic as this opportunity is for people who are unable to visit the museum, it cannot possibly be better than the real thing.

There's so much more to visiting a museum than just seeing art. It's about the atmosphere, the people around you, the feel of people's reactions to the images, the history, and in this case, the experience of being in a foreign country. All of these things are lost if you're not actually standing in the museum, in front of the painting.

The closer you zoom in on brush strokes, the further you get from seeing the big picture. Instead of getting close and analyzing technical aspects, people need to remain behind the velvet ropes and see the picture as the artist intended.

Great idea. Not a great experience compared to visiting the museum.