"In person" equivalent for inanimate objects

Solution 1:

I can't find a reference to back this up, but I would sometimes use the phrase "in person" for an object because in order to experience it that way you have to personally go see it. Since there is at least one person present it makes sense to me even if it might not be 100% technically correct.

I would not use it when there is no other person present:

The museum is more impressive in person (i.e. when you visit, it's impressive).

The curator of the museum was there in person (this works even if he's alone).

*The Mona Lisa was there in person (this doesn't work because no people are there).

So, depending on your needs, "in person" gets you half-way there.

Solution 2:

'In person' refers to the entity experiencing the observed item, not the item itself.

So 'in person' doesn't matter whether that item is a person, inanimate, or whatever.

Use 'in person' since you expect (probably) that it is a person doing the experiencing.