Grandma goes to the Getty

A few years ago, my grandmother came from New Jersey to visit us in California. I had her to myself one day, and decided to take her to the Getty Museum, where their traveling exhibition was Rembrant’s Late Religious Portraits. I thought, “This is great! My Irish-Catholic grandmother will love this!”

She spent a significant amount of time at each portrait.  About half an hour into it, I really thought she was enjoying it. I stood next to her while she stood between two of the portraits.  I asked her, “What do you think, Grandma?”

In a huffy voice, “Well, I’ve never heard of this saint.”  Yeah, Grandma, I’m sure Rembrant just made up a saint.

Then later, “Why is this one’s frame so much bigger?!”

And again, “Why is this frame gold?!”

That was all she had to say.  I took her to see a renowned artist’s religious work, and all Grandma could comment on were the frames.