12 must-see masterpieces at the Metropolitan Museum
Quick answer
The Met's must-see works are the Temple of Dendur, the Tomb of Perneb, Vermeer's Young Woman with a Water Pitcher, Rembrandt's Aristotle, Van Gogh's Wheat Field with Cypresses, Leutze's Washington Crossing the Delaware, Sargent's Madame X and Caravaggio's The Musicians.
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The 12 key works, wing by wing
- 1
Sackler Wing · Egyptian Art
Temple of Dendur (c. 15 BC)
An Egyptian temple gifted to the United States in 1965 and rebuilt in a glass hall with a pool that evokes the Nile.
- 2
Egyptian Art
Mastaba of Perneb (c. 2381–2323 BC)
An Old Kingdom tomb you can walk into, with reliefs showing daily life.
- 3
Arms and Armor
Equestrian armor
Knights and horses in full armor, a showcase of medieval European craftsmanship.
- 4
European Paintings · floor 2
Young Woman with a Water Pitcher — Vermeer (c. 1662)
One of the few Vermeers outside Europe: natural light, silence and a detail of the map on the wall.
- 5
European Paintings · floor 2
Aristotle with a Bust of Homer — Rembrandt (1653)
A deep portrait about fame and the power of money, with Rembrandt's light at its best.
- 6
European Paintings · floor 2
The Musicians — Caravaggio (c. 1597)
One of the painter's early works, loaded with sensuality and theatrical light.
- 7
European Paintings · floor 2
Manuel Osorio Manrique de Zúñiga — Goya (c. 1787–1788)
The boy in red with three cats stalking a magpie, a children's portrait with great narrative force.
- 8
Post-Impressionism · floor 2
Wheat Field with Cypresses — Van Gogh (1889)
Painted at Saint-Rémy, with a swirling sky and flame-like cypresses.
- 9
Impressionism · floor 2
Water Lilies — Monet
Monet's Giverny garden series shows his obsession with light and water.
- 10
American Wing · floor 2
Washington Crossing the Delaware — Emanuel Leutze (1851)
An enormous canvas of the Revolutionary War with strong patriotic charge.
- 11
American Wing · floor 2
Portrait of Madame X — John Singer Sargent (1883–1884)
A portrait that scandalised Paris with its fallen dress strap.
- 12
American Wing · floor 2
The Oxbow — Thomas Cole (1836)
A Romantic landscape of the Connecticut River that helped found the Hudson River School.
How to see them all in one visit
Start on the ground floor (Egypt, armor) and go up to floor 2. Some works go on tour or are removed for conservation: the official website and the floor plans at the entrance show where they are that day. You can follow the exact order on our 2-hour route.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Temple of Dendur?
In the Sackler Wing on the ground floor, beside Egyptian Art and overlooking Central Park.
Where is Washington Crossing the Delaware?
In the American Wing, on floor 2.
Does The Met have the Mona Lisa?
No. The Mona Lisa is in the Louvre. The Met has paintings by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Caravaggio.
Does The Met have Picasso?
Yes, in the modern art galleries, though the best-known Picasso collection is at MoMA.