A fan of Dan Brown’s latest blockbuster—an exploration into the mysteries of Freemasonry? (As Maureen Dowd wrote in The New York Times, “How can you not be frightened by a brotherhood that includes Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny; Buzz Aldrin; and Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s?”) Academy docent Marilyn Smith did hours of research on three Academy works that are referenced in one way or another in “The Lost Symbol.” And she has put it all together to give the Tour + Tea “The Lost Symbol at the Academy” Jan. 26, 28, 31, 2:30 p.m. It’s free with museum admission.
In the lineup are works from Albrecht Dürer’s “The Apocalypse” series, cause the book gets into the northern Renaissance master’s “Melencolia,” and Leonard Baskin’s bronze sculpture Isaac, cause the evil villain Mal’akh sees himself as that biblical character. Plus, you get to see George Washington sitting on a rainbow! Aciiiiieeeeeed! (In Constantino Brumidi’s “The Apotheosis of George Washington,” an oil sketch he did before painting the ceiling of the dome of the U.S. Capitol Building. That’s the Capitol fresco above, our George—who, by the way was a Freemason—is way more trippy and animated.)
This is going to be a popular Tour + Tea. To make reservations, call 532-8700.