Philbrook in Tulsa

“Great art melds together the eye and the soul.”

C e Hollis

Ron took me on an artist’s date a couple of weeks ago. We went to the Philbrook art museum in Tulsa. The painting above called The Shepherdess is my favorite and possibly the best painting the museum owns. I love her expression, her hair, and her clothes.

The picture frames are often as beautiful as the paintings —ornate and washed in gold. One display of modern art caught my attention using light and shadow and splashes of color to draw the eye. Many portraits like the women with the cat were perfect in detail.

The museum grounds are always worth the trek down from the patio past the flower beds and fountains.

The gardens are elaborate and full of flowers and water fountains. There is a gazebo at the eastern end from the mansion. I like to imagine the people there. Ladies in fine dresses and couples having picnic lunches in the shade, children running up and down the stairs and splashing in the fountains and pools. I imagine gardeners working and artists standing at easels practicing their painting. I imagine carriages pulled by horses bringing guests to visit.

Up the wonderful staircases to the upper hallways you see wrought iron work and woodwork and the stained glass windows. Chandeliers light up the cool interiors. Couch’s invite you to sit and rest a while by the pipe organ.

An afternoon spent walking the wide marble floored hallways and garden couldn’t be better spent. As I walk there I think of my shepherd Jesus who watches over us and guides us to green pastures.

“So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands.”

Psalm 78:72