The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Challenges
    • Challenge Archives
  • Ebooks
  • Prizes
  • Book Shelf
    • TERcets Podcast
  • The Ekphrastic Academy
  • Give
  • Submit
  • Contact
  • About/Masthead

All the Beauty in the World: Patrick Bringley Book Review By Alarie Tennille

7/26/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture

All the Beauty in the World: Book Review By Alarie Tennille


All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me 
by Patrick Bringley
Simon and Schuster 2023
View or purchase on Amazon, click here.



For a book to deserve a glowing review at The Ekphrastic Review, it must be superbly written AND surprise us with revelations about art. This first book by Patrick Bringley goes way beyond that. He also tosses in valuable pointers that may improve our own ekphrastic writing or assist in teaching ekphrastic workshops. Some of his quotes would even make superb epigraphs for poetry or flash fiction. On top of this book’s usefulness, it’s wonderfully entertaining. Who wouldn’t be fascinated by a behind-the-scenes look at how the Met operates? Even art thefts and damage caused by clumsy patrons can be fascinating.

It’s hard to believe how much the author packed into just 180 pages of text (including illustrations). Some readers may plow straight through this book, but I suspect most writers will mark quotes and take time to savor all its beauty. My bookshelves suffer from overcrowding, but this is a book that will have a permanent home.

Fresh out of college, Bringley landed a good job at The New Yorker, a phenomenal achievement for someone so young. So how did he wind up going from there to working the long, always-on-your-feet hours at the Met for much less money and prestige? Why did he stay for ten years?  I found it brilliant that page one began, “In the basement of the Metropolitan Museum of Art…” Our interest is piqued before we even learn about his impressive first job. He chose to set up the museum and the power of art as the focus of the book. 

He keeps us in the museum until page 25, when he introduces his not-quite-two-years-older big brother, Tom. Unfortunately, Tom, a newlywed, is dying of cancer. Patrick can’t manage the stress of dealing with his grief and being there for his brother while breaking into a demanding job at The New Yorker. Plus he’s also getting married with all that requires. 

Bringley made a wise move and invited us to come along with him. Fortunately for readers, the Met guards are regularly rotated. No matter what sort of art you prefer, you’ll get a taste of it on Bringley’s rounds. From Ancient Egypt (a favourite exhibit for children) to the quiet galleries of Asian art, European Old Masters to Modern, and special exhibits. We get a very thorough tour that even includes music. I was especially excited that he finished off his art talks with the quilts and the quilters of Gee’s Bend. I met those quilts at the High Museum in Atlanta nearly 20 years ago, and they remain inspiring to me. 

Almost as fascinating as his art insights is the mix of people he encountered from all over the world. Both guards and guests are international. Almost seven million visitors pass through the Met each year.

After spending long hours in the same gallery, Bringley discovered a new way of appreciating art that’s useful for TER authors. He says, “In time I develop a method for approaching a work of art. I resist the temptation to hunt right away for something singular about a work, the ‘big deal’ that draws the focus of textbook writers…. Art needs time to perform its magic for us.” (Although we don’t have a lot of time for TER’s ekphrastic challenges, it’s a good idea to go back and look at them several times on different days to see if we discover something new to set our writing apart.)

At first Bringley didn’t see the appeal of Monet, suspected his art was just pretty until he spent time with a village scene: “I look…a long time, and it only grows more abundant; it won’t conclude.” He adds that Monet “has painted that aspect of the world that can’t be domesticated by vision…what Emerson called ‘the flash and sparkle’ of it.”

Bringley was certainly right about the healing power of art and contemplation, too. But after ten years he did leave the Met, not because he tired of the job, but because working long hours and on weekends didn’t allow enough time with his young family. He was ready to move on, and the Met gave him all he needed to write a best-selling book. 

​Alarie Tennille

Alarie Tennille was a pioneer coed at the University of Virginia, where she earned her degree in English, Phi Beta Kappa key, and black belt in Feminism. Alarie received the first editor’s choice Fantastic Ekphrastic Award from The Ekphrastic Review, and in 2022, her latest book, Three A.M. at the Museum, was named Director’s Pick for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art gift shop. [ alariepoet.com ]

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    The Ekphrastic Review
    Picture
    Current Prompt
    Picture
    COOKIES/PRIVACY

    This website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies.

    Opt Out of Cookies
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Join us: Facebook and Bluesky
    @ekphrasticreview.



    ​
    ​Archives
    ​

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Lorette C. Luzajic [email protected] 

  • The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Challenges
    • Challenge Archives
  • Ebooks
  • Prizes
  • Book Shelf
    • TERcets Podcast
  • The Ekphrastic Academy
  • Give
  • Submit
  • Contact
  • About/Masthead