Museum Piece by Richard Wilbur

Richard Wilbur received a degree in literature from Amherst College and Harvard University.  Later, he fought in World War II.  Wilbur first made a name for himself in the late 1940s when he released a few poems that were unique in their convention of rhyme and other devices.  He is now known for writing within the poetic tradition launched by T.S. Eliot, using irony and intellect to create tension in his poems.

Museum Piece

The good gray guardians of art
Patrol the halls on spongy shoes,
Impartially protective, though
Perhaps suspicious of Toulouse.

Here dozes one against the wall,
Disposed upon a funeral chair.
A Degas dancer pirouettes
Upon the parting of his hair.

See how she spins! The grace is there,
But strain as well is plain to see.
Degas loved the two together:
Beauty joined to energy.

Edgar Degas purchased once
A fine El Greco, which he kept
Against the wall beside his bed
To hang his pants on while he slept.                

Analysis:
Museum Piece by Richard Wilbur focuses on the under-appreciation of art.  The poem emphasizes this under-appreciation in two examples.  The first example is expressed through the actions of the security guard.  The poem begins with the guard patrolling "the halls with spongy shoes," glancing at the paintings but not seeing them fully.  The security guard views the art "impartially" because he is indifferent on what the art represents, which emphasizes his lack of interest in art.  Later in the night, the guard falls asleep “against the wall.”    Once again, the guard fails to recognize the majestic qualities of the art that surrounds him, such as Degas’s “dancer” that joins “beauty and energy” while she pirouettes, which reiterates the guards disinterest in art

            The second example shifts to the portrayal of how artists view each other.  In the poem Degas purchased an El Greco painting to hang his paints on.  This shows that artists lack appreciation of different styles of art.  Even though both men are artists, Degas disrespects El Greco’s art because it is completely different than his own.  However, Degas actions show that he is completely neglecting El Greco’s talents.  The relationship of Degas and El Greco portrayed in this poem shows how we today, neglect to give credit to the artists who create unique styles of art, resulting in our under-appreciation of art as a culture.