On-Line Museums Prove Popular

It seems hard to believe, but nearly as many people now visit the worlds great art museums on-line each day, as those who go there in person. <br><br>It's a web boom that museum directors have been

Tuesday, May 2nd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

It seems hard to believe, but nearly as many people now visit the worlds great art museums on-line each day, as those who go there in person.

It's a web boom that museum directors have been quick to capitalize on.

The Louvre web site features dozens of collections, all of them allow visitors to control a 360 degree virtual tour by moving your mouse.

If the Rembrandt galley isn't to your liking, try going underground into a
medievel dungeon.

At the National Gallery of Art in Washington, the same technology allows visitors to tour the sculpture garden and with some special collections, like the Van Gogh exhibit, you can zoom in for a closer look. Click on a painting you like and view it full screen.

At the Museum of Modern Art in New York, click on a painting, like Van Gogh's the starry night and listen as well as look.

Van Gogh stayed up three night in a row to paint the view from his window in the asylum.

The museum even lets you send the painting to friends. Of course viewing the paintings on a tiny monitor is admittedly pretty lame, compared to seeing them in person, but it's a great way to beat the crowds or even plan for next summers vacation.

To visit the Museum of Modern Art, click below.
http://www.moma.org

To visit the National Gallery of Art, click below.
http://www.nga.gov

To visit the Louvre, click below.
http://www.louvre.fr