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Cleve Gray papers, 1933-2005

Creator:
Gray, Cleve, 1918-2004  Search this
Subject:
Richter, Hans  Search this
Marin, John  Search this
Lipchitz, Jacques  Search this
Pollock, Jackson  Search this
Grace, Louise N.  Search this
Gray, Francine du Plessix  Search this
Duchamp, Marcel  Search this
Dillenberger, Jane  Search this
Gabo, Naum  Search this
Ernst, Jimmy  Search this
Davis, Jim  Search this
Calder, Alexander  Search this
Barzun, Jacques  Search this
Weber, Nicholas Fox  Search this
Smith, David  Search this
Villon, Jacques  Search this
Pratt Institute  Search this
Rhode Island School of Design  Search this
Neuberger Museum of Art  Search this
Jacques Seligmann & Co  Search this
Betty Parsons Gallery  Search this
Connecticut. Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film  Search this
Princeton University  Search this
Berry-Hill Galleries  Search this
Type:
Poems
Articles
Photographs
Reviews (documents)
Notes
Illustrations
Notebooks
Sketches
Drafts (documents)
Video recordings
Sound recordings
Interviews
Manuscripts
Paintings
Prints
Watercolors
Drawings
Lectures
Citation:
Cleve Gray papers, 1933-2005. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- United States  Search this
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Protest Movements -- United States  Search this
Designers  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Women painters  Search this
Women sculptors  Search this
Theme:
Lives of artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)9567
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)211768
AAA_collcode_grayclev
Theme:
Lives of artists
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_211768
Online Media:

Robert Reed papers

Creator:
Reed, Robert, 1938-2014  Search this
Names:
Albers, Josef  Search this
Extent:
3.4 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1961-2020
Scope and Contents:
The papers of artist and teacher Robert Reed measure 3.4 linear feet and date from 1960-2020. The collection documents Reed's extensive career as an exhibition artist as well as his teaching activities. The latter includes over four decades at the Yale School of Art. The papers include extensive printed material such as rare catalogs, gallery cards, and exhibition mailers. There is also correspondence from students and peers in the art world, notably including painter Philip Guston. At the beginning of his career, Reed was tasked by Josef Albers with mixing colors and creating color plates for Albers' book Interaction of Color, Yale University Press, 1963. Some of these tests are included in the papers, along with a transcription of Reed's interview by the Albers Foundation.
Biographical / Historical:
Robert Reed (1938-2014) was a painter and educator in New Haven, Conn.­ Reed was especially influential in the history of abstraction and African American art in the twentieth century.
Provenance:
Donated in 2022 by Susan Whetstone, Robert Reed's widow and by Dr. Lisabeth Jordan and Mark A. Reed, Robert Reed's children.
Restrictions:
Test plates made by Reed at the request of Josef Albers for Albers' book Interaction of Color are access restricted; written permission is required. Contact Reference Services for more information. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Painters -- Connecticut -- New Haven  Search this
Educators -- Connecticut -- New Haven  Search this
Topic:
African American artists  Search this
Identifier:
AAA.reedrobe
See more items in:
Robert Reed papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw91b46191f-a69d-4af4-aeef-b0cc9e43aaf4
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-reedrobe

Joseph Cornell Study Center Collection

Artist:
Cornell, Joseph  Search this
Names:
Benton, Elizabeth Cornell  Search this
Cornell, Robert  Search this
Extent:
196.8 Linear feet
186 Nitrate negatives
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Nitrate negatives
Photographic photoprints
Photographs
Place:
New York, New York
Date:
1750-1980, bulk 1930-1972
Summary:
The Joseph Cornell Study Center collection measures 196.8 linear feet and dates from 1750 to 1980, with the bulk of the material dating from 1930 to 1972. Documenting the artistic career and personal life of assemblage artist Joseph Cornell (1903-1972), the collection is primarily made up of two- and three-dimensional source material, the contents of the artists' studio, his record album collection, and his book collection and personal library. The collection also includes diaries and notes, financial and estate papers, exhibition materials, collected artifacts and ephemera, photographs, correspondence, and the papers of Robert Cornell (1910-1965) and Helen Storms Cornell (1882-1966), the artist's brother and mother.
Scope and Contents:
The Joseph Cornell Study Center collection measures 196.8 linear feet and dates from 1750 to 1980, with the bulk of the material dating from 1930 to 1972. Documenting the artistic career and personal life of assemblage artist Joseph Cornell (1903-1972), the collection is primarily made up of two- and three-dimensional source material, the contents of the artists' studio, his record album collection, and his book collection and personal library. The collection also includes diaries and notes, financial and estate papers, exhibition materials, collected artifacts and ephemera, photographs, correspondence, and the papers of Robert Cornell (1910-1965) and Helen Storms Cornell (1882-1966), the artist's brother and mother.

Correspondence is with collectors, museums, galleries, artists, friends, family, charity organizations, admirers and those admired by Cornell, and World War II European pen pals. Discussions about the appreciation, donation, sale, purchase, and exhibition of Cornell's works are frequent, with the inclusion of shipping and loan documentation or notices of payment installments. Galleries and museums frequently request that Cornell agree to an exhibition, which he often declines, and fans request free works be mailed or affordable works be sold to them. With friends, artists, and those he admired, Cornell discussed topics that fascinate him, included bits of poetry or philosophical musings, sent clippings or a collaged letter, and occasionally discussed a project or work in process. After World War II, when so many were displaced by the war in Europe, Cornell answered ads for pen pals in the "Christian Science Monitor," often responding to requests for clothing or other goods, and sometimes exchanging many letters over several years. Family correspondence is with his mother, sisters, brother, and others, and often notes activities of the day, foods eaten, and general musings, as well as occasionally mentioning a project or artwork. Correspondents of note include Stan Brakhage, Betty Freeman, Charles Henri Ford, Allegra Kent, Yayoi Kusama, Roberto Matta, Marianne Moore, Octavio Paz, Sonia Sekula, Pavel Tchelitchew, Parker Tyler, Dorothea Tanning, and Betsy von Furstenberg, among others.

Cornell was often preoccupied with his thoughts, feelings, memories, a project or thematic "exploration," and jotted notes on seemingly any surface available. Notes and musings are on napkins, the backs of envelopes, newspaper clippings, and paper bags from record and magazine stores. Frequently, an observation would trigger a lengthy nostalgic moment, or a "feé," fairy-like child or girl, would capture his imagination and lead him to thoughts of 18th-century ballerinas and silent film stars. Cornell wrote longer diary notes, sometimes expanding on an earlier notation or emotion, and often wrote when he experienced trouble sleeping or woke early. Drafted letters to imaginary muses or admired individuals are interspersed among diaries, often revealing Cornell's yearnings to find emotional intimacy and human connection. Over time, Cornell revisited his notes and occasionally made further notations about renewed thoughts on a topic, dating the note with "revisited" or "reviewed." Notes are often written in a stream-of-consciousness style, for example, jumping from the mention of a record album or composer, to a ballerina of the same period, a note about a French poet, the memory of childhood, or an observation made earlier in the day, all in the space of a few lines. Notes about artistic processes or meanings behind works or images do occasionally emerge from the tangled, poetic notations. Notes also often provide insights into Cornell's internal emotional state and give clues about his intentions behind an artwork or a particular thematic fixation.

Financial materials document Cornell's professional and personal business activities, including the sale of artworks, annual expenses for supplies and household incidentals, payments and schedules for personal assistants, receipts for donations to charities and nonprofits, and tax documents. There is also information about who worked as assistants, or "helpers," in his later years and where Cornell purchased art supplies. Additionally, specific details are documented through receipts and invoices, such as what kind of paint he purchased. Estate records include preparations made for Cornell's artworks after his death, and clippings about other deceased artist's estates show that he thought often about such arrangements in his later years.

Exhibition files highlight several select solo exhibitions for Cornell, as well as preparations and planning for the "Robert Cornell: Memorial Exhibition" in honor of his brother in 1966. Also included are several early exhibition catalogs and announcements, including "Surréalisme" (January 9-29, 1932) and "Exhibition of Objects (Bibloquet) by Joseph Cornell" (December 6-31, 1939) at the Julien Levy Gallery, and "Romantic Museum: Portraits of Women, Constructions and Arrangements by Joseph Cornell" (December 1946) at the Hugo Gallery.

Film projects and collected film materials consist of files related to Cornell's various experimental film projects: "Aviary," "Cappuccino," "Centuries of June," "Fable for Fountains," "Nymphlight," "Serafina's Garden," and unrealized film scenario "Monsieur Phot." Files include film-making notes, correspondence, and photographs. Cornell's interest in film also led him to collect film-related materials, such as film stills, film posters, and screening programs. Scattered correspondence documents the interest other institutions and individuals had in purchasing and viewing his collection. Though most of his collected film stills and movie posters were donated to the Anthology Film Archives, film stills from "Escape Me Never" (1935) and "The Passion of Joan of Arc" (1928) are still within the collection, as well as film-screening programs for Cornell's collection of films.

Writing and design projects document Cornell's work authoring articles and designing issues of specialty dance magazine "Dance Index," and his layouts for popular magazines like "Good Housekeeping," "House and Garden," and "Mademoiselle." Other writing projects include brochures dedicated to opera singers Maria Malibran and Giulia Grisi, "Maria" and "Bel Canto Pet." Materials used for these brochures, such as copper photo engraving plates, are also found. Design work includes a series of Christmas cards created with The Museum of Modern Art as well as traced patterns ("textile tracings") and design clippings from Cornell's time working as a "textile designer" for Traphagen Commercial Textile Studio.

Cornell acquired troves of source material from bookstalls, antique stores, sporting good and department stores, hardware stores, and magazine and record shops. He kept boxes and files of material on admired individuals, such as actresses, artists, dancers, and singers, as well as on art projects or thematic "explorations." Files are on general topics such as American history, scientific phenomena, animals, plants, and humankind, as well as on series of artworks, such as "Castles," "Homage to the Romantic Ballet," and "Medici Slot Machines." Focused "exploration" projects include "Celestial Theatre," "Colombier," "GC 44," and "Switzerland," among others. Materials include photographs, photostats, maps, book fragments, autographed letters, notes, collage clippings and cutouts, collected prints and engravings, box and collage fragments, and scattered artifacts.

Collected ephemera includes large amounts of blank postcards and greeting cards, stamps, collected bus and train tickets, food labels and packaging, decals, and other materials. Artifacts are three-dimensional collected objects and source objects, which include found objects from the streets, dried flowers, and pieces of nature gathered from walks around his neighborhood. Cornell may have gathered materials because they inspired a memory or nostalgic feeling, or because they fit with a bin of other similar objects to select from for an artwork in progress.

Photographs found within the collection are of Cornell at work and as a child with family. Also found are assorted personal and family photographs, photographs of Cornell's attic and garage storage, and photographs of his Utopia Parkway house. Photographs of artwork include few installation photographs, in addition to photographs of Cornell's boxes and collages. Collected photographic materials include vintage photographs, such as tintypes, a cyanotype, stereoscopic glass slides, albumen prints, cabinet cards, and cartes-de-visite. Cornell also collected cased photographs, such as daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and one opalotype. Negatives and photostats were often produced from various prints and even other photographs and used in Cornell's boxes and collages. Images are of men and women, actors, authors, dancers, performers, well-known men and women, royalty, places, and artwork. Photographs of note include those by Hans Namuth of Willem and Lisa de Kooning and of Edward Hopper's bedroom; photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson; a photograph by Julia Margaret Cameron; photographs by Brassai; and a photogravure by Alfred Stieglitz from "Camerawork."

Also found in the collection are works of art by others, including a sketch by Pavel Tchelitchew, as well as artwork by Cornell, such as unfinished collages, Rorschach drawings or ink blots, and childhood artwork. Printed material includes assorted bulletins, flyers, exhibition materials for other artists, journals, and sent printed membership and charity materials. Magazines, including "View," are also included, and often have annotations by Cornell or a note to "cut" or "review" with page numbers. A large amount of magazine and newspaper clippings are in the collection, sometimes collected with a group of like material by Cornell, and at other times simply gathered in heaps. Occasional annotations are also found on the clippings.

Cornell's personal library and book collection includes over 2500 titles, ranging from fiction, poetry, and cinema, to history, science, and travel. Notable among the titles are "Baedeker's" travel guides that Cornell often sourced for his "Hotel" box series, as well as an influential publication by Max Ernst, "La Femme 100 têtes," which includes a typed letter and exhibition flyer tucked within. Books often have annotations, some fairly extensive, by Cornell, and assorted collected items, notes, and correspondence tucked between pages. Pages were often cut by Cornell, either to make photostats and use in a box, or to file with other thematic "explorations." A wide range of authors and topics provide insight into Cornell's interests and to ideas behind artwork and diary notes. Cornell's collection of record albums includes over 145 records. These contain inserted notes and clippings and are often referenced in diary notes Cornell made, noting a recent album or song listened to while at work in his studio.

The papers of Cornell's mother, Helen Storms Cornell, and his brother, Robert Cornell, are also included in the collection. Both lived with Cornell his whole life, spending the most time with him at their home at 3708 Utopia Parkway. Financial materials document shared responsibilities for billing, utilities, household fixes and chores, and expenditures, and Helen kept detailed financial records in a series of ledgers. Robert notes when he borrowed money from Cornell, or when he means to pay Cornell back for the purchase of a typewriter. Activities documented in diaries also occasionally cross paths with Cornell, noting his visitors or an exchange of letters continued after introductions through Cornell. Personal activities, such as Robert's interest in his train collection and his drawing projects and cartoon series, are also documented.
Arrangement:
The Joseph Cornell Study Center Collection is arranged into 15 series:

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1917-1972 (Boxes 1, 98, OV118; 0.9 linear feet)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1813, 1934-circa 1973 (Boxes 1-8, 86; 6.5 linear feet)

Series 3: Diaries and Notes, 1940-1976 (Boxes 8-10, 98-99, 135, OV108, OV119; 3.5 linear feet)

Series 4: Personal Business and Estate Records, 1950-1978 (Boxes 10-14; 4.1 linear feet)

Series 5: Exhibition Files, 1932-1973 (Box 14; 0.3 linear feet)

Series 6: Film Projects and Collected Film Materials, circa 1924-1972 (Boxes 14-16, 100, 133; 1.6 linear feet)

Series 7: Writing and Design Projects, circa 1910s, 1936-1962 (Boxes 16-18, 86, 100, 131-132, OV109-OV111, OV120-OV122; 3.6 linear feet)

Series 8: Source Material, 1750-circa 1911, 1926-1972 (Boxes 19-49, 86-92, 96, 100-105, 126-130, 132-137, OV112-OV115, OV125; 42.2 linear feet)

Series 9: Artifacts and Ephemera, 1768, circa 1839-1972 (Boxes 49-52; 3.2 linear feet)

Series 10: Photographic Material, circa 1800s-1972 (Boxes 52-56, 80-86, 93, 106, 128, 133, OV116, OV123-OV124; 7.5 linear feet)

Series 11: Artwork, circa 1810-1972 (Boxes 56-57, 107, OV117; 1.2 linear feet)

Series 12: Printed Material, 1855-1972 (Boxes 57-76, 94-96, 107; 16 linear feet)

Series 13: Book Collection and Personal Library, 1722-1980 (99.8 linear feet)

Series 14: Record Album Collection, circa 1925-1974 (3.2 linear feet)

Series 15: Cornell Family Papers, 1910-1980 (Boxes 77-79, 97, 107; 3.2 linear feet)
Biographical / Historical:
Joseph Cornell (1903-1972) was a self-taught assemblage and collage artist, and filmmaker, active in New York City. He was born in Nyack, New York on December 24, 1903, and died of heart failure at his home in Queens, New York on December 29, 1972. The oldest of four children, he was born Joseph I. Cornell to his mother, Helen Storms Cornell (1882-1966), and his father, Joseph I. Cornell (1875-1917). Cornell had two younger sisters, Elizabeth ("Betty") Cornell Benton (1905-2000) and Helen ("Sissy") Cornell Jagger (1906-2001), as well as one brother, Robert Cornell (1910-1965), who had cerebral palsy.

Cornell attended the Phillips Academy, a preparatory boarding school in Andover, Massachusetts, beginning shortly after his father's death in 1917. He attended for four years but did not receive a diploma, and soon began work as a textile salesman for the William Whitman Company in Manhattan. His work took him, by foot, through the city, visiting secondhand bookshops on Fourth Avenue, browsing music stores and magazine shops, and catching early shows at the Metropolitan Opera House. He would occasionally wait outside the stage doors for favorite singers and dancers to emerge, requesting signatures on photographs or bits of costumes.

Around 1926, Cornell joined the Christian Science Church, joined by his brother Robert shortly thereafter, and both continued to be lifelong members. Cornell kept a number of books in his personal library on Christian Science teachings and regularly subscribed to "The Christian Science Monitor."

After living in several rental houses in Bayside, New York, Cornell's mother purchased a house for the family in 1929 in Flushing, Queens. Cornell, along with his mother and brother, would live at 3708 Utopia Parkway, for the rest of their lives. His two sisters soon married and moved away, eventually settling in Westhampton, Long Island and in the poultry-farming business.

With no formal art training to speak of, Cornell's first work was a Max Ernst-inspired collage, "Untitled (Schooner)," created in 1931. He was especially inspired by Ernst's collage novel, "La Femme 100 têtes," published in 1929. French artist Odilon Redon was also among the few artists Cornell named as an influence on his art. His first sculptural works were small, cardboard pill boxes with bits of ephemera, costume adornments, and nature hidden inside. Cornell also created a series of glass bell jar works, placing small trinkets and Victorian-era-like compositions within. It was these early collages and bell jar works that were included in Cornell's debut exhibition, "Surréalisme" (January 9-29, 1932), a group show at the Julien Levy Gallery. Cornell designed the announcement for the show and exhibited alongside Max Ernst, Man Ray, Pierre Roy, Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp, Eugène Atget, George Platt Lynes, Jean Cocteau, and Salvador Dalí. Months later, Cornell was invited to have his first solo show, "Objects by Joseph Cornell: Minutiae, Glass Bells, Shadow Boxes, Coups d'Oeil, Jouets Surréalistes" (November 26-December 30, 1932), also at the Julien Levy Gallery.

In 1932, after eleven years of work, Cornell was laid off from the William Whitman Company due to the Great Depression. Soon after, he took on more responsibility in the church, working part-time as an attendant in the Christian Science Reading Room in Great Neck, New York. Beginning in 1933, he taught Sunday school classes for three years and in 1935, became the Sunday school librarian. However, his religious activities and artistic ventures continued to remain separate.

In the early 1930s, Cornell progressed from movie lover to filmmaker. When Julien Levy began his New York Film Society in 1933, holding screenings of various experimental films in the gallery, Cornell began buying and collecting films and film stills in earnest. He set up a 16-millimeter projector in his home to screen favorites, such as those by Georges Méliès, D.W. Griffith, and Louis Feuillade. His collection quickly grew to over 2,500 film stills and several hundred films, and included silent era films, such as nature documentaries, goofy newsreels, travelogues, early cartoons, and slapstick comedies, as well as several feature films. In 1933, Cornell wrote a screenplay, or "scenario," entitled "Monsieur Phot." Between 1935 and 1937, Cornell also occasionally created publicity photomontages for Universal and Columbia studios. Of the nearly thirty films Cornell created, periods of activity can generally be separated into two areas: collage films of the late 1930s, consisting of combined elements from films in his own collection, and films he directed in the 1950s, which were collaborations with other filmmakers set in New York City. "Rose Hobart," Cornell's most celebrated collage film, was created and shown in the Julien Levy Gallery in 1936 and includes clipped footage from "East of Borneo." Later films were directed and filmed with cinematographers Stan Brakhage, Rudy Burckhardt, and Larry Jordan.

In 1934, Cornell began a job at the Traphagen Commercial Textile Studio as a "textile designer," a job he held for six years. Continuing to work at his kitchen table in the evenings, Cornell completed his first assemblage box construction, "Untitled (Soap Bubble Set)," in 1936. It was first exhibited at The Museum of Modern Art's show, "Fantastic Art, Dada and Surrealism" (December 9, 1936-January 17, 1937). This work was also the first to be acquired by a museum, purchased for $60.00 by the Wadsworth Atheneum in Massachusetts in 1938. Cornell's European debut was also in 1938, as one of three Americans represented in the "Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme" (January 17-Febuary 24, 1938) at the Galerie Beaux-Arts in Paris, alongside Man Ray and Anne Clark.

At the end of 1939, Cornell began corresponding with poet Charles Henri Ford, founder of avant-garde magazine "View," Pavel Tchelitchew, and Parker Tyler. After his "Soap Bubble Sets," this period saw the development of Cornell's homages to singers and actresses, including "Untitled (Fortune-Telling Parrot for Carmen Miranda)," the destroyed "Garbo (Greta Garbo in the Legendary Film 'The Crystal Mask,' c. 1845)," and "Dressing Room for Gilles." He also began using photostats of art reproduction prints, as with the print of Jean Antoine-Watteau's painting, "Pierrot" (circa 1719), used in his "Gilles" box.

In the 1940s, the Romantic ballet emerged as Cornell's new topic of interest. Through his friend Pavel Tchelitchew, Cornell was introduced to the School of American Ballet and New York City Ballet founders, Lincoln Kirstein and George Balanchine. Cornell collected dance memorabilia and had a great love of the Romantic ballet. His favorite dancers were primarily ballerinas of the nineteenth century, including Fanny Cerrito, Marie Taglioni, Fanny Elssler, Lucille Grahn, and Carlotta Grisi. Cornell's "Homage to the Romantic Ballet" works largely took the shape of jewel-box style wooden boxes with glass overlays and included bits of velvet, tulle, sequins, crystals, and chiffon, occasionally collected from dancers themselves. His most well-known work of this series is "Taglioni's Jewel Casket" (1940). Cornell also admired several living ballet dancers, including Tamara Toumanova, Zizi Jeanmaire, and Allegra Kent, who would all make their way into Cornell's box works and/or collages. Collecting for the "exploration," "Portrait of Ondine," Cornell's cased portfolio dedication to Fanny Cerrito and her role in the ballet "Ondine," began in the 1940s, though not completed until around 1960.

In late 1940, Cornell quit his job at Traphagen to concentrate on freelance commercial magazine design and editorial work during the day and his artwork at night. That same year, Charles Henri Ford started "View" magazine to promote Surrealists and Neo-Romantics in New York City and often asked Cornell to contribute. Published in the December 1941-January 1942 issue, one of his early contributions was a collage dedication to stage actress Hedy Lamarr: "Enchanted Wanderer: Excerpt from a Journey Album for Hedy Lamarr" (1941). Along with writing the accompanying text, he created a photomontage of Lamarr with her face overlaying the painted portrait of a Renaissance boy by Italian painter Giorgione. Peggy Guggenheim, at the advice of Marcel Duchamp, purchased multiple Cornell works prior to opening her new gallery, Art of This Century. Cornell also befriended Roberto Matta Echaurren, another Surrealist living in exile, who introduced him to Robert Motherwell.

After deciding to fully dedicate his time to his art in early 1940, he set up a studio in his basement. Complete with floor-to-ceiling wooden shelving, he kept his large collection of boxed source material stacked with handwritten labels in cardboard boxes. Themed folders of materials such as "Stamps" or "Maps" were kept in stacks and works in progress and finished works were stored in the basement, garage, and attic. Entering a renewed period of productivity, Cornell embarked on many new and important box projects in 1942. One of the first boxes created in his new basement studio, and the first of the "Penny Arcade" or "Medici Slot Machine" series, was "Medici Slot Machine" (1942), which includes a photostat of "Portrait of Marquess Massimiliano Stampa" (1557) by Sofonisba Anguissola. Another work from this time is the first of his "Castle" or "Palace" series, "Setting for a Fairy Tale" (1942), which uses a photostat of a French building from Jacques Androuet du Cerceau's book, "Les Plus excellents bastiments de France" (1576). "Untitled (Pharmacy)" (circa 1942) was the first of his "Pharmacy" series and included twenty-two apothecary jars. Cornell tended to work in series and created thirteen "Palace" boxes between 1942 and 1951, and ultimately created six "Pharmacy" works.

In 1943, Cornell began working at an electronics company, the Allied Control Company, Inc., to do his part to contribute to the defense effort during the war. He also sent correspondence and care packages to displaced Europeans, who listed their needs in "The Christian Science Monitor." Influenced by World War II, one of his strongest works to emerge in 1943 was "Habitat Group for a Shooting Gallery." Another notable work to come out of this period, "The Crystal Cage (Portrait of Berenice)," was an excerpt from one of his album "explorations" that was published in the January 1943 issue of "View."

Cornell left his job at Allied Control in 1944, but soon began working at the Garden Centre in Flushing, owned by a fellow Christian Scientist. Cornell was often nostalgic for this time in his life, devoting an entire "exploration" of material fondly remembered as "GC 44." He rode a bicycle to work and enjoyed collecting trips gathering dried grasses, driftwood, shells, and other relics of nature on the same bicycle as he rode through the streets of Queens. During this time, he continued to tend to his projects for "Dance Index," a magazine founded in 1942 by Lincoln Kirstein, but taken over by Donald Windham in 1944. Cornell designed several covers for the magazine and was given control of the entire summer 1944 issue, which he devoted to the Romantic ballet. He also devoted a special 1945 issue to Hans Christian Andersen, making great use of the New York Public Library Picture Collection.

Throughout the 1940s, Cornell continued to support himself with commercial design work for magazines like "Vogue," "Good Housekeeping," "Harper's Bazaar," "Town & Country," and "Mademoiselle." In 1946, after thirteen years at the Julien Levy Gallery, he joined the Hugo Gallery. In December 1946, Cornell's solo exhibition, "Romantic Museum at the Hugo Gallery: Portraits of Women by Joseph Cornell," celebrated his favorite movie stars, singers, and ballet dancers, and included his work created for the show, "Untitled (Penny Arcade Portrait of Lauren Bacall)." Cornell's "Greta Garbo" box, as well as "Souvenir for Singleton," an homage to Jennifer Jones and her role in the film "Love Letters," were also included in the show. In late 1948, his West Coast debut was in the exhibition, "Objects by Joseph Cornell," held at the Copley Gallery. The end of the 1940s saw the final issue of "View" magazine in 1947, the closure of the Julien Levy Gallery in April 1949, and Cornell's departure from the Hugo Gallery after his last show in November 1949.

In late 1949, Cornell joined the Charles Egan Gallery, known primarily for showing Abstract Expressionists. At this time, Cornell was working on a new series of boxes known as his "Aviary" works, most of which include a white-painted box with cutouts of birds mounted on wood. Though he had worked on bird-related boxes before, including an "Owl" series in the mid-1940s, his "Fortune Telling Parrot" (1939), and "Object 1941" (1941), these newer works were stripped of French elements and left "clean and abstract" by design. His first show at the Egan Gallery, "Aviary by Joseph Cornell" (December 7, 1949-January 7, 1950), included twenty-six "Aviary" works, nearly all created in 1949. Donald Windham agreed to write the foreword for the exhibition catalog, a single folded sheet, and Cornell gave him one of the boxes in the show, "Cockatoo: Keepsake Parakeet," in appreciation. Through the Egan Gallery, Cornell became friends with a new group of artists, including Franz Kline, Jack Tworkov, and Willem de Kooning. Cornell also held two screenings of a selection of his collected films at Subjects of the Artist, an art school founded by Robert Motherwell, Mark Rothko, David Hare, and William Baziotes.

In 1950, Cornell's second show at the Egan Gallery, "Night Songs and Other New Work" (December 1, 1950-January 13, 1951), introduced his new "Observatory" series. These works are largely defined by stark, whitewashed spaces with astronomical charts and constellations replacing colorful birds. The Museum of Modern Art purchased its first Cornell work from this show in early 1951, "Central Park Carrousel, in Memoriam" (1950).

For three months in 1951, Cornell was beset by various ailments and had trouble finding the energy to create new work. He worried more for his aging mother and the health of his brother. After a monthlong vacation with his sisters in Westhampton, he returned with renewed interest in Emily Dickinson's poetry. His whitewashed boxes took on a new form in his newest "Dovecote" series, using grids and circular cutouts. The works then transformed into homages to Dickinson, notably "Toward the Blue Peninsula: For Emily Dickinson" (circa 1953), and then to his "Hotel" series. Cornell's "Hotel" boxes include photostats of vintage European ads for hotels collected from vintage travel guides, especially "Baedeker's," adhered to the back walls of the boxes. Another new series of work, his "Juan Gris" series, was dedicated to Cubist artist Juan Gris. Between 1953 and the mid-1960s, Cornell created at least fifteen "Juan Gris" boxes, which often include a cutout of a white cockatoo in a Cubist-collage habitat. Cornell's third and last show at Egan Gallery, "Night Voyage" (February 10-March 28, 1953), included some of these newest works. After leaving Egan Gallery, his work was introduced to Chicago collectors in a solo show at the Frumkin Gallery, "Joseph Cornell: 10 Years of His Art" (April 10-May 7, 1953), which included nearly thirty pieces. Cornell's first museum retrospective was this same show held at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis (July 12-August 30, 1953).

As New York City continued to change, Cornell grew more nostalgic for the city he had explored since the 1920s. The impending closure of the Third Avenue El train prompted him to dream up a film project to capture its last days, resulting in "Gnir Rednow," a reworking of Stan Brakhage's 1955, "Wonder Ring." During this time, Cornell joined the Stable Gallery, run by Eleanor Ward, interacting often with Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly, and Joan Mitchell, remaining there until the end of the 1950s. His astronomy-themed exhibition, "Winter Night Skies" (December 12, 1955-January 13, 1956), included his "Night Skies" series of work with celestial chart fragments, Greek mythological figures, and paint-splattered "windows" representative of star-filled night skies. In 1956, he became aware of ballerina Allegra Kent, and began a series of work devoted to her, the first of which was "Via Parmigianino (Villa Allegra)" (1956), which included a photostat of a painting by Parmigianino, "The Madonna of the Long Neck" (circa 1540). In late 1957, after two years, Cornell had his last show at Stable Gallery, "Joseph Cornell: Selected Works" (December 2-31, 1957), consisting of a series of "Sand Fountain" boxes and "Space Object" or "Celestial Navigation" works. The "Sand Fountain" boxes included different colors of sand meant to flow within, often from the tops into cordial glasses. His "Celestial Navigations" included galaxy-like compositions set within the boxes, with rolling, painted cork balls, metal rings, and constellation charts, sometimes hovering over cordial glasses or clay pipes. This last Stable Gallery show earned him his first published profile, written by Howard Griffin for the December 1957 issue of "Art News." Also in 1957, he won the Kohnstamm Prize for Construction at the Art Institute of Chicago's 62rd Annual Exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture.

Towards the end of the 1950s, Cornell spent less time creating new bodies of work, and focused more on revisiting previous series and reviewing piles of collected source material. In 1959, Cornell returned to making collages, frequently sourcing popular magazines. In December 1959, Cornell was awarded $1,500 for his "Orion" collage, entered in the Art Institute of Chicago's "63rd American Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture." Also in December, he was offered a show at Bennington College in Vermont, which he titled, "Bonitas Solstitialis: Selected Works by Joseph Cornell and an exploration of the Colombier" (November 20-December 15, 1959). The show included one of his newest "explorations" of collected material related to "colombier," or pigeon houses.

By 1962, Cornell was working diligently on new collages, using Masonite boards and colorful magazine clippings. He also began creating collages using nude images interspersed with constellation clippings or hazy blue dyes. As in previous decades and art movements, Cornell became acquainted with new artists, spending less time in the city and more time hosting visitors at his Utopia Parkway home. Visitors included artists Walter De Maria, Robert Whitman, Andy Warhol, James Rosenquist, and Robert Indiana. Tony Curtis also became a frequent visitor and friend, introduced by Richard Feigen in 1964. The early 1960s was also the first time Cornell put out an advertisement for assistants in the "Long Island Star-Journal," employing a number of young men and women who helped organize clippings and run errands. Cornell also met Joyce Hunter, a young runaway waitress at a city coffee shop, who would occupy his thoughts and diary notes for the next several years. When she was murdered at the end of 1964, Cornell paid for her funeral. He went on to make several "Penny Arcade" collages in memoriam to her, including, "Penny Arcade (re-autumnal)" (1964).

In 1964, Cornell began friendships with several women including artist Carolee Schneeman, who was his first assistant in the early 1960s. He also met artist Yayoi Kusama through art dealer Gertrude Stein. After becoming friends, she visited him often and they exchanged letters and notes. As he did with other artist friends, Cornell supported her by purchasing several of her early watercolor paintings, and they stayed connected until his death in 1972.

Cornell's life greatly changed in 1965 with the death of his brother, Robert. By this time, his mother lived with his sister in Long Island, and Cornell was alone in the Utopia Parkway house for the first time. He exchanged frequent letters and phone calls with his mother and devoted much time to thinking about Robert and Joyce, often aligning them in his diary notations. Cornell also created a series of collages dedicated to his brother's memory, incorporating photostats of Robert's hundreds of drawings into Cornell's work, as with the later collage, "The Heart on the Sleeve" (1972). Cornell's "Time Transfixed" series of collages were also dedications to Robert's memory, referencing Magritte and Robert's love of trains. He mounted an exhibition, "Robert Cornell: Memorial Exhibition" (January 4-29, 1966), at the Robert Schoelkopf Gallery, where he showed Robert's artwork alongside his newly created collage dedications.

After Robert's death, Cornell relied more heavily on assistants, going through many part-time "helpers." In October 1966, Cornell's mother died, adding her to his constant thoughts and diaries. Though he was still grieving, he was given two major retrospectives in 1967. The first was at the Pasadena Art Museum, put on by James Demetrion and Walter Hopps, "An Exhibiton of Works by Joseph Cornell" (January 9-February 11, 1967). The second retrospective was at the Guggenheim Museum just three months later, "Joseph Cornell" (May 4-June 35, 1967), organized by Diane Waldman. After these shows, he was highlighted in the December 15, 1967 issue of "Life" in the article, "The Enigmatic Bachelor of Utopia Parkway."

In 1968, Cornell was given an "award of merit," which included a medal and $1,000, by the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. He was also given a medal and $1,000 by the Brandeis University Creative Arts Awards in the painting category, along with an exhibition. Days later, "The New York Times" announced Cornell the winner, along with Donald Judd, of India's first Triennale of Contemporary World Art. The Brandeis exhibition, "Boxes and Collages by Joseph Cornell" (May 20-June 23, 1968), was organized by William Seitz and concentrated on Cornell's more recent 1960s collages. Cornell was also included in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's hundredth anniversary show, "New York Painting and Sculpture: 1940 to 1970" (October 18, 1969-February 1, 1970), where twenty-two of Cornell's boxes were shown in their own gallery. At the end of 1970, Cornell was given a solo show at the Metropolitan, "Collages by Joseph Cornell" (December 10, 1970-January 24, 1971), which included forty-five of his newest collages.

Now preferring to stay closer to his home in Flushing, Cornell was more interested in sharing his art with young adults and children, than an adult audience. He hosted a group of high school students, sponsored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's education department, at his home in conjunction with his collage show (1970-1971). He also showed his work in the art department of Queens College of the City University of New York. Cornell still hosted visitors on occasion, having Yoko Ono and John Lennon at his home at least once. Leila Hadley, Betsy von Furstenberg, and Anne Jackson also made frequent visits. With his deteriorating health, Cornell worried about what would happen to his work after his death and hired lawyer Harry Torczyner to help him plan his estate and get his affairs in order.

In 1972, Cornell had a show at the Cooper Union, a college in New York, specifically for children. He displayed his boxes and collages at child-height and had cherry soda and brownies at the opening reception on February 10. He then held a show at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, also for children: "Children's Preview of the Exhibition of Joseph Cornell – Collages and Boxes (April 18-June 17, 1972). In the winter of 1972, at the request of the Phoenix House drug treatment and prevention program, Cornell contributed to a charity project compiling limited-edition lithographic prints for a portfolio, which included artists like David Hockney, James Rosenquist, and Ellsworth Kelly.

On December 29, 1972, a week after turning sixty-nine, Cornell died of heart failure at his home. He was cremated and interred near the graves of his mother, father, and brother, overlooking the Hudson River in Nyack, New York.

Works Cited:

1. Hartigan, Lynda Roscoe. "Joseph Cornell: Navigating the Imagination." New Haven, Connecticut and London: Yale University Press, 2007. Exhibition Catalog.

2. McShine, Kynaston. "Joseph Cornell." New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1980.

3. San Francisco Cinematheque and The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. "Joseph Cornell: Films." 2007. Exhibition Program. (Presented in conjunction with SFMOMA's exhibition of "Joseph Cornell: Navigating the Imagination").

4. Schaffner, Ingrid and Lisa Jacobs. "Julien Levy: Portrait of an Art Gallery." Cambridge, Massachusetts and London: The MIT Press, 1998.

5. Solomon, Deborah. "Utopia Parkway: The Life and Work of Joseph Cornell." New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1997.
Separated Materials:
The Smithsonian Archives of American Art houses the Joseph Cornell papers, 1804-1986, bulk 1939-1972.
Provenance:
The Joseph Cornell Study Center collection was donated to the Smithsonian American Art Museum by Joseph Cornell's sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth Cornell Benton and John A. Benton, in 1978, which prompted the creation of the Joseph Cornell Study Center. Additional materials were donated in installments by the artist's estate, the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, from 1985 to 1997. Elizabeth and John A. Benton originally donated 66 linear feet of three-dimensional and non-textual source material and 50 linear feet of books to the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, which were subsequently transferred to the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Joseph Cornell Study Center in 1994 and 1995.
Restrictions:
Access to the collection requires an advanced appointment. Contact collection staff at least two weeks prior to preferred date, at AmericanArtCornellStudy@si.edu.

Series 9: Artifacts and Ephemera, Series 13: Personal Library and Book Collection, and Series 14: Record Album Collection, are still undergoing processing and preservation and may not be available for research use. Record albums are unavailable for playback. Contact collection staff for full lists of publications and record albums.
Rights:
Unpublished materials are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Occupation:
Collagists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Topic:
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- United States  Search this
Assemblage (Art)  Search this
Assemblage artists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Found objects (Art)  Search this
Works of art  Search this
Celebrities  Search this
Filmmakers -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographic photoprints -- Silver gelatin -- 1900-1950
Photographs -- 1860-1870 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver albumen -- Cartes-de-visite
Photographs -- Daguerreotypes -- 1840-1860
Citation:
Joseph Cornell Study Center collection, 1750-1980, bulk 1930-1972. Joseph Cornell Study Center, Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Identifier:
SAAM.JCSC.1
See more items in:
Joseph Cornell Study Center Collection
Archival Repository:
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Research and Scholars Center
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ih7d97fc249-474d-41bf-953d-5305df1e4c06
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-saam-jcsc-1

Lady Washington's Reception

Alternate Title:
Republican Court
Artist:
Daniel Huntington, 14 Oct 1816 - 18 Apr 1906  Search this
Sitter:
Abigail Smith Adams, 11 Nov 1744 - 28 Oct 1818  Search this
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, 9 Aug 1757 - 9 Nov 1854  Search this
John Jay, 12 Dec 1745 - 17 May 1829  Search this
John Adams, 30 Oct 1735 - 4 Jul 1826  Search this
Alexander Hamilton, 11 Jan 1757 - 11 Jul 1804  Search this
Henry Laurens, 6 Mar 1724 - 8 Dec 1792  Search this
John Dickinson, 8 Nov 1732 - 14 Feb 1808  Search this
Mary Alsop King, 1769 - 1819  Search this
Mrs. Van Rensseleaar  Search this
Unidentified Sitter  Search this
Mrs. Genet  Search this
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, 2 Jun 1731 - 22 May 1802  Search this
Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis, 31 Mar 1779 - 15 Jul 1852  Search this
Mary White Morris, 1749 - 1827  Search this
John Trumbull, 6 Jun 1756 - 10 Nov 1843  Search this
Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 Oct 1710 - 17 Aug 1785  Search this
Oliver Ellsworth, 1745 - 1807  Search this
Thomas Jefferson, 13 Apr 1743 - 4 Jul 1826  Search this
Miss Habersham  Search this
Faith Trumbull Wadsworth, 1769 - 1846  Search this
Oliver Wolcott, 1726 - 1797  Search this
George Hammond, 1763 - 1853  Search this
George Washington, 22 Feb 1732 - 14 Dec 1799  Search this
Harriet Chew Carroll, 1775 - 1861  Search this
Duke of Kent  Search this
Arthur Middleton, 1742 - 1787  Search this
Mrs. Drayton  Search this
Miss Brockholst Livingston  Search this
Mrs. Bingham, born mid 18th century  Search this
Abigail Amelia Adams Smith  Search this
Benjamin Huntington  Search this
Pamela Dwight Sedgwick, 26 Jun 1753 - 20 Sep 1807  Search this
Lewis Morris, 8 Apr 1726 - 22 Jan 1798  Search this
Robert Morris, 31 Jan 1734 - 8 May 1806  Search this
Thomas McKean, 19 Mar 1734 - 24 Jun 1817  Search this
Nathanael Greene, 7 Aug 1742 - 19 Jun 1786  Search this
Sarah Vanbrugh Livingston Jay, 2 Aug 1756 - 28 May 1802  Search this
Sophia Chew, 1769 - 1841  Search this
Gouverneur Morris, 31 Jan 1752 - 6 Nov 1816  Search this
King Louis Philippe of France, 1773 - 1850  Search this
James Iredell, 5 Oct 1751 - 20 Oct 1799  Search this
Benjamin Rush, 4 Jan 1746 - 19 April 1813  Search this
Charles Carroll, 1737 - 1832  Search this
William White, c. 4 Apr 1748 - 17 Jul 1836  Search this
Gilbert Stuart, 3 Dec 1755 - 9 Jul 1828  Search this
Otho Holland Williams, 1749 - 1794  Search this
Robert R. Livingston, 27 Nov 1746 - 26 Feb 1813  Search this
Francis Hopkinson, 1737 - 1791  Search this
Catherine Luer  Search this
Sally Foster Otis, 1770 - 1836  Search this
Alice De Lancey Izard, 1745 - 1832  Search this
Cornelia Tappen Clinton, 1744 - 1800  Search this
John Hancock, 12 Jan 1737 - 8 Oct 1793  Search this
Ashbel Green, 1762 - 1848  Search this
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, 17 Sep 1730 - 28 Nov 1794  Search this
Edmund Randolph, 10 Aug 1753 - 12 Sep 1813  Search this
Mrs. Cutler  Search this
Mrs. Chauncey Goodrich  Search this
Mrs. Winthrop  Search this
Martha ("Patsy") Jefferson Randolph, 27 Sep 1772 - 10 Oct 1836  Search this
Benjamin Lincoln, 24 Jan 1733 - 9 May 1810  Search this
Henry Knox, 25 Jul 1750 - 25 Oct 1806  Search this
George Washington Parke Custis, 30 Apr 1781 - 10 Oct 1857  Search this
Possibly:
Mary Carroll Caton, 2 Sep 1770 - 14 Nov 1846  Search this
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
167.6 x 277cm (66 x 109 1/16")
Type:
Painting
Date:
1861
Topic:
Interior  Search this
Architecture\Arch  Search this
Artwork\Painting  Search this
Artwork\Sculpture\Bust  Search this
Architecture\Column  Search this
Artwork\Sculpture\Statue  Search this
Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis: Female  Search this
Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis: Visual Arts\Artist\Silhouettist  Search this
Ashbel Green: Male  Search this
Ashbel Green: Religion and Spirituality\Clergy  Search this
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben: Male  Search this
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War Army officer  Search this
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben: Education and Scholarship\Administrator\University administrator\University trustee  Search this
Edmund Randolph: Male  Search this
Edmund Randolph: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\US Attorney General  Search this
Edmund Randolph: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of State  Search this
Edmund Randolph: Politics and Government\Governor\Virginia  Search this
George Washington: Male  Search this
George Washington: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War Army officer  Search this
George Washington: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman  Search this
George Washington: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer  Search this
George Washington: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General  Search this
George Washington: Politics and Government\President of US  Search this
George Washington: Science and Technology\Surveyor  Search this
George Washington: Congressional Gold Medal  Search this
Otho Holland Williams: Male  Search this
Otho Holland Williams: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War Army officer  Search this
George Hammond: Male  Search this
George Hammond: Politics and Government\Statesman  Search this
Robert Morris: Male  Search this
Robert Morris: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Robert Morris: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Robert Morris: Business and Finance\Financier  Search this
Robert Morris: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Merchant\Shipping  Search this
Robert Morris: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Pennsylvania  Search this
Robert Morris: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Benjamin Lincoln: Male  Search this
Benjamin Lincoln: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War Army officer  Search this
Benjamin Lincoln: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of War  Search this
Benjamin Lincoln: Politics and Government\Lieutenant Governor\Massachusetts  Search this
Mary White Morris: Female  Search this
Mary White Morris: Society and Social Change\Hostess  Search this
Henry Knox: Male  Search this
Henry Knox: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War Army officer  Search this
Henry Knox: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of War  Search this
Henry Knox: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Merchant\Bookseller  Search this
Oliver Wolcott: Male  Search this
Oliver Wolcott: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Oliver Wolcott: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Gilbert Stuart: Male  Search this
Gilbert Stuart: Visual Arts\Artist\Painter  Search this
Gilbert Stuart: Visual Arts\Artist\Portraitist  Search this
Francis Hopkinson: Visual Arts\Artist  Search this
Francis Hopkinson: Male  Search this
Francis Hopkinson: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Francis Hopkinson: Literature\Writer  Search this
Francis Hopkinson: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Nathanael Greene: Male  Search this
Nathanael Greene: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War Army officer  Search this
Nathanael Greene: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General  Search this
Nathanael Greene: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Industrialist\Manufacturer\Iron  Search this
Nathanael Greene: Congressional Gold Medal  Search this
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton: Female  Search this
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton: Society and Social Change\Philanthropist  Search this
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton: Society and Social Change\Administrator\Charity administrator\Charity founder\Orphanage founder  Search this
John Jay: Male  Search this
John Jay: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
John Jay: Literature\Writer  Search this
John Jay: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
John Jay: Politics and Government\Governor\New York  Search this
John Jay: Law and Crime\Judge\Justice\US Supreme Court Justice\Chief Justice of US  Search this
Thomas McKean: Male  Search this
Thomas McKean: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Thomas McKean: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Thomas McKean: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Thomas McKean: Politics and Government\Governor\Pennsylvania  Search this
Thomas McKean: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Delaware  Search this
Thomas McKean: Law and Crime\Judge\Justice\State Supreme Court Justice\Pennsylvania  Search this
Faith Trumbull Wadsworth: Female  Search this
Alice De Lancey Izard: Female  Search this
Charles Carroll: Male  Search this
Charles Carroll: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Charles Carroll: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Charles Carroll: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Business executive\Railroad  Search this
Charles Carroll: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Planter  Search this
Charles Carroll: Politics and Government\State Senator\Maryland  Search this
Charles Carroll: Politics and Government\US Senator\Maryland  Search this
John Adams: Male  Search this
John Adams: Literature\Writer  Search this
John Adams: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
John Adams: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
John Adams: Politics and Government\Vice-President of US  Search this
John Adams: Politics and Government\Diplomat  Search this
John Adams: Politics and Government\President of US  Search this
John Adams: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Massachusetts  Search this
Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.: Male  Search this
Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.: Law and Crime\Judge  Search this
Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.: Politics and Government\Governor\Connecticut  Search this
Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Merchant  Search this
Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.: Politics and Government\Legislator  Search this
Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.: Law and Crime\Justice of the Peace  Search this
Benjamin Rush: Male  Search this
Benjamin Rush: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Benjamin Rush: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Benjamin Rush: Medicine and Health\Physician  Search this
Benjamin Rush: Society and Social Change\Reformer  Search this
Benjamin Rush: Education and Scholarship\Educator\Professor\College  Search this
Benjamin Rush: Literature\Writer\Medical  Search this
Benjamin Rush: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Humanitarian  Search this
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington: Female  Search this
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington: Politics and Government\First Lady\First Lady of US  Search this
John Hancock: Male  Search this
John Hancock: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman  Search this
John Hancock: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
John Hancock: Politics and Government\Governor\Massachusetts  Search this
John Hancock: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Merchant  Search this
Martha ("Patsy") Jefferson Randolph: Female  Search this
Martha ("Patsy") Jefferson Randolph: Society and Social Change\Hostess  Search this
Martha ("Patsy") Jefferson Randolph: Politics and Government\Daughter of US President  Search this
Sally Foster Otis: Female  Search this
Arthur Middleton: Male  Search this
Arthur Middleton: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Arthur Middleton: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Arthur Middleton: Military and Intelligence\Soldier\Revolution  Search this
Arthur Middleton: Politics and Government\US Congressman\South Carolina  Search this
Arthur Middleton: Law and Crime\Justice of the Peace  Search this
Arthur Middleton: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Planter  Search this
Sarah Vanbrugh Livingston Jay: Female  Search this
Cornelia Tappen Clinton: Female  Search this
Robert R. Livingston: Male  Search this
Robert R. Livingston: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Robert R. Livingston: Politics and Government\Statesman  Search this
Robert R. Livingston: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Robert R. Livingston: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer  Search this
Robert R. Livingston: Education and Scholarship\Founder\School  Search this
Robert R. Livingston: Visual Arts\Founder\Art Museum  Search this
Robert R. Livingston: Politics and Government\Diplomat\Minister  Search this
Robert R. Livingston: Politics and Government\US Congressman\New York  Search this
Robert R. Livingston: Politics and Government\Chancellor  Search this
John Trumbull: Male  Search this
John Trumbull: Visual Arts\Artist\Portraitist  Search this
John Trumbull: Visual Arts\Artist\Painter\History painter  Search this
Mary Carroll Caton: Female  Search this
George Washington Parke Custis: Male  Search this
George Washington Parke Custis: Literature\Writer\Playwright  Search this
John Dickinson: Male  Search this
John Dickinson: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
John Dickinson: Literature\Writer  Search this
John Dickinson: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
John Dickinson: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Pennsylvania  Search this
John Dickinson: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
John Dickinson: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Delaware  Search this
John Dickinson: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Delaware  Search this
Alexander Hamilton: Male  Search this
Alexander Hamilton: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Alexander Hamilton: Literature\Writer  Search this
Alexander Hamilton: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War Army officer  Search this
Alexander Hamilton: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of Treasury  Search this
Alexander Hamilton: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Abigail Smith Adams: Female  Search this
Abigail Smith Adams: Politics and Government\First Lady\First Lady of US  Search this
Abigail Smith Adams: Literature\Writer\Letter writer  Search this
William White: Male  Search this
William White: Literature\Writer\Religious  Search this
William White: Religion and Spirituality\Clergy\Prelate\Bishop  Search this
Gouverneur Morris: Male  Search this
Gouverneur Morris: Politics and Government\US Senator\New York  Search this
Gouverneur Morris: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Gouverneur Morris: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Gouverneur Morris: Politics and Government\Diplomat\Minister  Search this
Mary Alsop King: Female  Search this
Lewis Morris: Male  Search this
Lewis Morris: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Lewis Morris: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Lewis Morris: Education and Scholarship\Administrator\University administrator\University trustee  Search this
Lewis Morris: Politics and Government\State Senator\New York  Search this
Lewis Morris: Politics and Government\Patriot  Search this
Lewis Morris: Military and Intelligence\Militia\Militiaman\Revolution  Search this
James Iredell: Male  Search this
James Iredell: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
James Iredell: Law and Crime\Judge\Justice\US Supreme Court Justice  Search this
James Iredell: Politics and Government\State Attorney General\North Carolina  Search this
King Louis Philippe of France: Male  Search this
King Louis Philippe of France: Rulers and Aristocracy\Aristocrat\Duke  Search this
King Louis Philippe of France: Rulers and Aristocracy\King\France  Search this
Henry Laurens: Male  Search this
Henry Laurens: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Henry Laurens: Politics and Government\Government official  Search this
Henry Laurens: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Merchant  Search this
Henry Laurens: Military and Intelligence\Militia\Officer  Search this
Henry Laurens: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Planter  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Male  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Vice-President of US  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Visual Arts\Architect  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\President of US  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of State  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Diplomat\Minister  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Science and Technology\Inventor  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Virginia  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Governor\Virginia  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Education and Scholarship\Founder\University  Search this
Sophia Chew: Female  Search this
Oliver Ellsworth: Male  Search this
Oliver Ellsworth: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Oliver Ellsworth: Politics and Government\US Senator\Connecticut  Search this
Oliver Ellsworth: Law and Crime\Judge\Justice\US Supreme Court Justice\Chief Justice of US  Search this
Mrs. Bingham: Female  Search this
Benjamin Huntington: Male  Search this
Mrs. Van Rensseleaar: Female  Search this
Mrs. Winthrop: Female  Search this
Mrs. Genet: Female  Search this
Miss Habersham: Female  Search this
Duke of Kent: Male  Search this
Mrs. Drayton: Female  Search this
Miss Brockholst Livingston: Female  Search this
Abigail Amelia Adams Smith: Female  Search this
Pamela Dwight Sedgwick: Female  Search this
Catherine Luer: Female  Search this
Mrs. Cutler: Female  Search this
Mrs. Chauncey Goodrich: Female  Search this
Harriet Chew Carroll: Female  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
Owner: Brooklyn Museum
Object number:
39.536.1 Brooklyn
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
Catalog of American Portraits
Data Source:
Catalog of American Portraits
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4bdf775af-c0f1-4418-9b79-1266df00f765
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_39.536.1_Brooklyn

Scene at the Signing of the Constitution

Artist:
Howard Chandler Christy, 10 Jan. 1872 - 3 Mar. 1952  Search this
Howard Chandler Christy, 10 Jan. 1872 - 3 Mar. 1952  Search this
Sitter:
Abraham Baldwin, 22 Nov 1754 - 4 Mar 1807  Search this
Richard Bassett, 2 Apr 1745 - 16 Aug 1815  Search this
Gunning Bedford, Jr., 1747 - 1812  Search this
John Blair Jr., 1732 - 1800  Search this
William Blount, 1749 - 1800  Search this
David Brearly, 1745 - 1790  Search this
Jacob Broom, 1752 - 1810  Search this
Pierce Butler, 1744 - 1822  Search this
Daniel Carroll, 1730 - 1796  Search this
George Clymer, 16 Mar 1739 - 25 Jan 1813  Search this
Jonathan Dayton, 1760 - 1824  Search this
John Dickinson, 8 Nov 1732 - 14 Feb 1808  Search this
William Few, 1748 - 1828  Search this
Thomas Fitzsimons, 1741 - 1811  Search this
Benjamin Franklin, 17 Jan 1706 - 17 Apr 1790  Search this
Nicholas Gilman, 1755 - 1814  Search this
Nathaniel Gorham, 1738 - 1796  Search this
Alexander Hamilton, 11 Jan 1757 - 11 Jul 1804  Search this
Jared Ingersoll, 1749 - 1822  Search this
William Jackson, 1759 - 1828  Search this
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, 1723 - 16 Nov 1790  Search this
William Samuel Johnson, 7 Oct 1727 - 14 Nov 1819  Search this
Rufus King, 24 Mar 1755 - 29 Apr 1827  Search this
Howard Chandler Christy, 10 Jan. 1872 - 3 Mar. 1952  Search this
John Langdon, 1741 - 1819  Search this
William Livingston, 1723 - 1790  Search this
James Madison, 16 Mar 1751 - 28 Jun 1836  Search this
James McHenry, 1753 - 1816  Search this
Thomas Mifflin, 1744 - 1800  Search this
Gouverneur Morris, 31 Jan 1752 - 6 Nov 1816  Search this
Robert Morris, 31 Jan 1734 - 8 May 1806  Search this
William Paterson, 1745 - 1806  Search this
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 25 Feb 1746 - 25 Aug 1825  Search this
George Read, 18 Sep 1733 - 21 Sep 1798  Search this
John Rutledge, 1739 - 18 Jul 1800  Search this
Roger Sherman, c. 19 Apr 1721 - 23 Jul 1793  Search this
Richard Dobbs Spaight, 1758 - 1802  Search this
George Washington, 22 Feb 1732 - 14 Dec 1799  Search this
Hugh Williamson, 5 Dec 1735 - 22 May 1819  Search this
James Wilson, 14 Sep 1742 - 21 Aug 1798  Search this
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
600cm x 900cm (236 1/4" x 354 5/16"), Sight
Type:
Painting
Date:
1940
Topic:
William Jackson: Male  Search this
William Jackson: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War Army officer  Search this
William Jackson: Politics and Government\Public official\Secretary  Search this
Thomas Mifflin: Male  Search this
Thomas Mifflin: Business and Finance\Businessperson  Search this
Thomas Mifflin: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Thomas Mifflin: Politics and Government\Governor\Pennsylvania  Search this
Jared Ingersoll: Male  Search this
Jared Ingersoll: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Jared Ingersoll: Politics and Government\US Attorney  Search this
Jared Ingersoll: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Jared Ingersoll: Politics and Government\State Attorney General\Pennsylvania  Search this
George Washington: Male  Search this
George Washington: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War Army officer  Search this
George Washington: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman  Search this
George Washington: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer  Search this
George Washington: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General  Search this
George Washington: Politics and Government\President of US  Search this
George Washington: Science and Technology\Surveyor  Search this
George Washington: Congressional Gold Medal  Search this
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: Male  Search this
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: Politics and Government\Presidential candidate  Search this
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War Army officer  Search this
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: Politics and Government\Diplomat  Search this
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General  Search this
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: Politics and Government\Diplomat\Minister  Search this
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: Politics and Government\US Congressman\South Carolina  Search this
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: Politics and Government\Governor\South Carolina  Search this
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: Politics and Government\State Senator\South Carolina  Search this
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: Military and Intelligence\Prisoner of War  Search this
James Madison: Male  Search this
James Madison: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
James Madison: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Virginia  Search this
James Madison: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
James Madison: Politics and Government\President of US  Search this
James Madison: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of State  Search this
James Madison: Literature\Writer\Essayist  Search this
James Madison: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Virginia  Search this
James Madison: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Robert Morris: Male  Search this
Robert Morris: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Robert Morris: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Robert Morris: Business and Finance\Financier  Search this
Robert Morris: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Merchant\Shipping  Search this
Robert Morris: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Pennsylvania  Search this
Robert Morris: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
William Livingston: Male  Search this
William Livingston: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
William Livingston: Politics and Government\Governor\New Jersey  Search this
William Livingston: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
William Livingston: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer\Gentleman  Search this
Rufus King: Male  Search this
Rufus King: Politics and Government\State Legislator\New York  Search this
Rufus King: Politics and Government\US Senator\New York  Search this
Rufus King: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Rufus King: Politics and Government\Diplomat\Minister  Search this
Rufus King: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Rufus King: Politics and Government\Vice-Presidential Candidate  Search this
Nicholas Gilman: Male  Search this
Nicholas Gilman: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Nicholas Gilman: Politics and Government\US Senator\New Hampshire  Search this
Nicholas Gilman: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Nicholas Gilman: Politics and Government\US Congressman\New Hampshire  Search this
Nicholas Gilman: Politics and Government\Public official\Treasurer  Search this
John Langdon: Male  Search this
John Langdon: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
John Langdon: Politics and Government\Governor\New Hampshire  Search this
John Langdon: Politics and Government\US Senator\New Hampshire  Search this
John Langdon: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
George Clymer: Male  Search this
George Clymer: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
George Clymer: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
George Clymer: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Pennsylvania  Search this
George Clymer: Business and Finance\Banker  Search this
George Clymer: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Merchant  Search this
George Clymer: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
John Rutledge: Male  Search this
John Rutledge: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
John Rutledge: Law and Crime\Judge\Justice\US Supreme Court Justice\Chief Justice of US  Search this
David Brearly: Male  Search this
David Brearly: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Jacob Broom: Male  Search this
Jacob Broom: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Real estate agent  Search this
Jacob Broom: Law and Crime\Justice of the Peace  Search this
Jacob Broom: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Jacob Broom: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Maryland  Search this
Jacob Broom: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Shipping  Search this
Jacob Broom: Politics and Government\Government official\Postmaster  Search this
Thomas Fitzsimons: Male  Search this
John Blair Jr.: Male  Search this
John Blair Jr.: Law and Crime\Judge\Justice\US Supreme Court Justice  Search this
John Blair Jr.: Law and Crime\Jurist  Search this
John Blair Jr.: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
William Blount: Male  Search this
William Blount: Politics and Government\US Senator\Tennessee  Search this
William Blount: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Planter  Search this
William Blount: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
William Blount: Business and Finance\Land speculator  Search this
Abraham Baldwin: Male  Search this
Abraham Baldwin: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Georgia  Search this
Abraham Baldwin: Politics and Government\US Senator\Georgia  Search this
Abraham Baldwin: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Abraham Baldwin: Education and Scholarship\Founder\University  Search this
Richard Bassett: Male  Search this
Richard Bassett: Law and Crime\Judge  Search this
Richard Bassett: Politics and Government\Governor\Delaware  Search this
Hugh Williamson: Male  Search this
Hugh Williamson: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War Army officer  Search this
Hugh Williamson: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Hugh Williamson: Medicine and Health\Physician  Search this
Hugh Williamson: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Hugh Williamson: Politics and Government\Patriot  Search this
Hugh Williamson: Medicine and Health\Medical Scientist  Search this
Hugh Williamson: Politics and Government\US Congressman\North Carolina  Search this
Pierce Butler: Male  Search this
Pierce Butler: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Planter  Search this
Pierce Butler: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Pierce Butler: Politics and Government\US Senator\South Carolina  Search this
James McHenry: Male  Search this
James McHenry: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
James McHenry: Politics and Government\State Senator\Maryland  Search this
James McHenry: Medicine and Health\Physician\Army\Surgeon  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Male  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Literature\Writer  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Science and Technology\Scientist  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Politics and Government\Diplomat  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Society and Social Change\Philanthropist  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Science and Technology\Inventor  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Crafts and Trades\Printer  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Politics and Government\Government official\Postmaster  Search this
William Few: Male  Search this
William Few: Politics and Government\State Legislator\New York  Search this
William Few: Military and Intelligence\Soldier\Revolution  Search this
William Few: Law and Crime\Judge  Search this
William Few: Society and Social Change\Philanthropist  Search this
William Few: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
William Few: Politics and Government\State Senator\Georgia  Search this
William Few: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Business executive\Banking  Search this
Nathaniel Gorham: Male  Search this
Nathaniel Gorham: Business and Finance\Businessperson  Search this
Nathaniel Gorham: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Nathaniel Gorham: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Nathaniel Gorham: Business and Finance\Land speculator  Search this
Gunning Bedford, Jr.: Male  Search this
Gunning Bedford, Jr.: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Gunning Bedford, Jr.: Law and Crime\Judge  Search this
Gunning Bedford, Jr.: Law and Crime\Jurist  Search this
Gunning Bedford, Jr.: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Gunning Bedford, Jr.: Politics and Government\State Attorney General\Delaware  Search this
Richard Dobbs Spaight: Male  Search this
Richard Dobbs Spaight: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Roger Sherman: Male  Search this
Roger Sherman: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Roger Sherman: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Roger Sherman: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Roger Sherman: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Merchant  Search this
Roger Sherman: Law and Crime\Justice of the Peace  Search this
Roger Sherman: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Roger Sherman: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Revolutionary  Search this
Roger Sherman: Crafts and Trades\Cobbler  Search this
Roger Sherman: Politics and Government\Public official\Mayor\New Haven, CT  Search this
John Dickinson: Male  Search this
John Dickinson: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
John Dickinson: Literature\Writer  Search this
John Dickinson: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
John Dickinson: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Pennsylvania  Search this
John Dickinson: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
John Dickinson: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Delaware  Search this
John Dickinson: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Delaware  Search this
Alexander Hamilton: Male  Search this
Alexander Hamilton: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Alexander Hamilton: Literature\Writer  Search this
Alexander Hamilton: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War Army officer  Search this
Alexander Hamilton: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of Treasury  Search this
Alexander Hamilton: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Jonathan Dayton: Male  Search this
Jonathan Dayton: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Jonathan Dayton: Politics and Government\US Congressman\New Jersey  Search this
Jonathan Dayton: Politics and Government\US Senator\New Jersey  Search this
Jonathan Dayton: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Jonathan Dayton: Business and Finance\Land speculator  Search this
Gouverneur Morris: Male  Search this
Gouverneur Morris: Politics and Government\US Senator\New York  Search this
Gouverneur Morris: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Gouverneur Morris: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Gouverneur Morris: Politics and Government\Diplomat\Minister  Search this
Howard Chandler Christy: Visual Arts\Artist  Search this
Howard Chandler Christy: Male  Search this
Howard Chandler Christy: Visual Arts\Artist\Painter  Search this
Howard Chandler Christy: Visual Arts\Artist\Illustrator  Search this
Howard Chandler Christy: Visual Arts\Artist\Painter\Muralist  Search this
Daniel Carroll: Male  Search this
Daniel Carroll: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Daniel Carroll: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Planter  Search this
Daniel Carroll: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Daniel Carroll: Politics and Government\US Senator\Maryland  Search this
William Samuel Johnson: Male  Search this
William Samuel Johnson: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
William Samuel Johnson: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
William Samuel Johnson: Law and Crime\Judge  Search this
William Samuel Johnson: Politics and Government\US Senator\Connecticut  Search this
William Samuel Johnson: Education and Scholarship\Administrator\College administrator\President  Search this
William Samuel Johnson: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
James Wilson: Male  Search this
James Wilson: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
James Wilson: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
James Wilson: Law and Crime\Judge\Justice\US Supreme Court Justice  Search this
James Wilson: Law and Crime\Jurist  Search this
James Wilson: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
William Paterson: Male  Search this
William Paterson: Law and Crime\Judge\Justice\US Supreme Court Justice  Search this
William Paterson: Politics and Government\Governor\New Jersey  Search this
William Paterson: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
William Paterson: Politics and Government\State Senator\New Jersey  Search this
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer: Male  Search this
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Maryland  Search this
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Revolutionary  Search this
George Read: Male  Search this
George Read: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
George Read: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
George Read: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
George Read: Law and Crime\Judge\Justice\State Supreme Court Justice\Delaware  Search this
George Read: Politics and Government\Statesman\Signer of Constitution  Search this
George Read: Politics and Government\State Senator\Delaware  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
Owner: U.S. Capitol
Object number:
DC230429
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
Catalog of American Portraits
Data Source:
Catalog of American Portraits
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4ca7267d3-6e6b-4e3a-ae05-e605afc5e83d
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_DC230429

Roger S. Baldwin

Attribution:
Mathew Brady Studio, active 1844 - 1894  Search this
Sitter:
Roger Sherman Baldwin, 4 Jan 1793 - 19 Feb 1863  Search this
Medium:
Glass plate collodion negative
Dimensions:
Plate: 8.8 × 5.9 × 0.3 cm (3 7/16 × 2 5/16 × 1/8")
Type:
Photographic Negative
Date:
c. 1860-70
Topic:
Interior  Search this
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair  Search this
Costume\Dress Accessory\Eyeglasses  Search this
Home Furnishings\Drape  Search this
Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie\Necktie  Search this
Roger Sherman Baldwin: Male  Search this
Roger Sherman Baldwin: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Roger Sherman Baldwin: Politics and Government\US Senator\Connecticut  Search this
Roger Sherman Baldwin: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Connecticut  Search this
Roger Sherman Baldwin: Politics and Government\State Senator\Connecticut  Search this
Roger Sherman Baldwin: Politics and Government\Governor\Connecticut  Search this
Roger Sherman Baldwin: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Abolitionist  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Frederick Hill Meserve Collection
Object number:
NPG.81.M359
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4263cf45a-32c8-4589-9cdd-3838dc918b29
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.81.M359

Lafayette S. Foster

Attribution:
Mathew Brady Studio, active 1844 - 1894  Search this
Sitter:
Lafayette Sabine Foster, 22 Nov 1806 - 19 Sep 1880  Search this
Medium:
Glass plate collodion negative
Dimensions:
Plate: 8.8 × 5.9 × 0.2 cm (3 7/16 × 2 5/16 × 1/16")
Type:
Photographic Negative
Date:
c. 1860-70
Topic:
Interior  Search this
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair  Search this
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache  Search this
Home Furnishings\Curtain  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Male  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Journalism and Media\Newspaper editor  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Education and Scholarship\Educator\Teacher  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Education and Scholarship\Educator\Professor\College  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Politics and Government\US Senator\Connecticut  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Connecticut  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Education and Scholarship\Administrator\School administrator  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Politics and Government\Public official\Mayor\Norwich, CT  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Law and Crime\Judge\Justice\State Supreme Court Justice\Connecticut  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Frederick Hill Meserve Collection
Object number:
NPG.81.M770
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm477e68c0b-0ac8-4b54-8d44-80e14833ee18
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.81.M770

Lafayette S. Foster

Attribution:
Mathew Brady Studio, active 1844 - 1894  Search this
Sitter:
Lafayette Sabine Foster, 22 Nov 1806 - 19 Sep 1880  Search this
Medium:
Glass plate collodion negative
Dimensions:
Plate: 8.8 × 5.9 × 0.2 cm (3 7/16 × 2 5/16 × 1/16")
Type:
Photographic Negative
Date:
c. 1860-70
Topic:
Interior  Search this
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair  Search this
Costume\Dress Accessory\Glove  Search this
Home Furnishings\Curtain  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Male  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Journalism and Media\Newspaper editor  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Education and Scholarship\Educator\Teacher  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Education and Scholarship\Educator\Professor\College  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Politics and Government\US Senator\Connecticut  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Connecticut  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Education and Scholarship\Administrator\School administrator  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Politics and Government\Public official\Mayor\Norwich, CT  Search this
Lafayette Sabine Foster: Law and Crime\Judge\Justice\State Supreme Court Justice\Connecticut  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Frederick Hill Meserve Collection
Object number:
NPG.81.M771
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4f6044c82-604c-44a9-ab50-68cdd3303072
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.81.M771

Alberta Cifolelli papers, 1944 -2010

Creator:
Cifolelli, Alberta, 1931-  Search this
Subject:
Stanczak, Julian  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Video recordings
Interviews
Citation:
Alberta Cifolelli papers, 1944 -2010. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Women artists  Search this
Women painters  Search this
Women printmakers  Search this
Theme:
Women  Search this
Lives of artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)13354
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)252360
AAA_collcode_cifoalbe
Theme:
Women
Lives of artists
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_252360

Alberta Cifolelli papers

Creator:
Cifolelli, Alberta, 1931-  Search this
Names:
Stanczak, Julian, 1928-2017  Search this
Extent:
0.8 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Sound recordings
Video recordings
Interviews
Date:
1944 -2010
Summary:
The papers of painter and printmaker Alberta Cifolelli measure 0.8 linear feet and date from 1944 to 2010. The bulk of the collection relates to Cifolelli's exhibition career in Cleveland, Ohio and Westport, Connecticut. Found are biographical materials including recorded interviews; correspondence with artists and friends; personal photographs; and printed material. Also found is a digitial video recording about artist William Putch, Cifolelli's cousin.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of painter and printmaker Alberta Cifolelli measure 0.8 linear feet and date from 1944 to 2010. The bulk of the collection relates to Cifolelli's exhibition career in Cleveland, Ohio and Westport, Connecticut. Found are biographical materials including recorded interviews; correspondence with artists and friends; personal photographs; and printed material. Also found is a digitial video recording about artist William Putch, Cifolelli's cousin.
Arrangement:
Due to the small size of this collection the papers are arranged as one series.
Biographical / Historical:
Alberta Cifolelli (1931-2022) was a painter and printmaker in Cleveland, Ohio and Westport, Connecticut. She graduated from The Cleveland Institute of Art and later taught at the school while raising a family. Often, she showed her works at the Cleveland Museum of Art's annual May Shows. Cifolelli and her husband Charles P. Lamb, Jr, and sons moved to Connecticut where she continued to exhibit her works. In 1984, she designed the White House's annual commemorative Easter Egg. Cifolelli died in Connecticut in 2022.
Provenance:
Donated 2005-2011 by Alberta Cifolelli.
Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Printmakers -- Ohio -- Cleveland  Search this
Printmakers -- Connecticut -- Westport  Search this
Painters -- Ohio -- Cleveland  Search this
Painters -- Connecticut -- Westport  Search this
Topic:
Women artists  Search this
Women painters  Search this
Women printmakers  Search this
Genre/Form:
Sound recordings
Video recordings
Interviews
Citation:
Alberta Cifolelli papers, 1944-2010. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.cifoalbe
See more items in:
Alberta Cifolelli papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9601a2682-3bb3-4f32-b259-990c9fe87dbf
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-cifoalbe

Ilse Getz papers

Creator:
Getz, Ilse, 1917-  Search this
Extent:
3.4 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Diaries
Photographs
Date:
1928-1999
Summary:
The papers of collage artist Ilse Getz measure 3.4 linear feet and date from 1928 through 1999, with the bulk of the papers dating from circa 1947-circa 1990. Her personal life is reflected through biographical material including a genealogy of the Bechhold family; marriage and death certificates; and writings that include journals, artist statement, poems and notes. The collection contains letters from friends, artists, collectors, and museum and art gallery representatives; exhibition files; and printed material relating to Getz's exhibitions. Also found are photographs, slides and transparencies of artwork.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of collage artist Ilse Getz measure 3.4 linear feet and date from 1928 through 1999, with the bulk of the papers dating from circa 1947-circa 1990. Her personal life is reflected through biographical material including a genealogy of the Bechhold family; marriage and death certificates; and writings that include journals, artist statement, poems and notes. The collection contains letters from friends, artists, collectors, and museum and art gallery representatives; exhibition files; and printed material relating to Getz's exhibitions. Also found are photographs, slides and transparencies of artwork.
Arrangement:
This collection is organized into 6 series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1934-1996 (Box 1, OV 5; 0.2 linear feet)

Series 2: Letters, circa 1950-1999 (Box 1; 0.5 linear feet)

Series 3: Exhibition Files, circa 1944-1990 (Box 1, 2, 4; 1.0 linear feet)

Series 4: Writings, circa 1928-1987 (Box 2, 4; 0.2 linear feet)

Series 5: Printed Material, circa 1956-1990 (Box 2, 3, 4, OV 5; 1.0 linear feet)

Series 6: Photographs, circa 1940-1985 (Box 3; 0.5 linear feet)
Biographical / Historical:
Ilse Getz (1917-1992) was born in Nuremberg, Germany and immigrated to the U.S. in 1933. She studied at the Art Students League with George Grosz and Morris Kantor and at the Ozenfant School. Getz was a collage and construction artist active from the 1950s through the 1980. She exhibited at several galleries in New York City including the Bertha Schaefer Gallery and Rosenberg Gallery.

During her childhood, Ilse Getz (nee Bechhold) had been uprooted both from home and country. She was first displaced in 1929, when she was sent to Hamburg to live with her sister after her father died by suicide. In 1933, Ilse and her sister left Nazi Germany, and traveled to Italy, Spain, Cuba, and Mexico. Ilse joined immediate family in New York. In 1937, Ilse married lawyer David Getz and settled in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Three years later she had a child and became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

In 1942, while visiting her sister in Mexico, Getz created her first oil painting. Upon returning to New York, Ilse continued her artistic exploration and studied with George Grosz and Morris Kantor at the Art Students League. By 1945, Getz had already held her first solo exhibition at the Norlyst Gallery in New York.

Getz traveled extensively throughout her life, incorporating the experiences in her work. During 1947-1948, she traveled and worked in Europe, visiting Switzerland, France, Spain and Portugal among other countries before retiring for four months in Guaruja, Brazil. She destroyed most of the artwork created during that period and returned to New York City.

During the summer of 1956, Getz taught and exhibited at the Positano Art Workshop in Italy along with Piero Dorazio. She repeated the experience two years later. In 1958, Getz married her second husband, artist Manoucher Yektai. The following year, Getz and Yektai went to Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, New York after having received fellowships to the artists' community.

In 1960, Getz was commissioned by Richard Barr to create the set for Eugene Ionesco's play, The Killer. The venue was the Seven Arts Theater in New York City and she completed the set in five days. Getz spent the next two years in Paris where she was represented by the Iris Clert Gallery; she exhibited in France, Germany and England. In 1962, Getz returned to New York City and maintained a studio on the Upper East Side. Getz married for the third time in 1964 to Gibson Danes who was then the Dean of Yale School of Art and Architecture. The couple lived in New York and Connecticut, and eventually settled in Newtown, Connecticut.

Getz participated in national and international exhibitions and in solo and group shows. Her collages and constructions incorporate items such as dolls, toys, birds, eggs, playing cards, and game boards. In 1978, retrospective exhibitions of Getz's work were held at the Neuberger Museum in Purchase, New York and in her native city at the Kunsthalle Nürnberg. Retrospective exhibitions were also held in 1980 at the Goethe House and Alex Rosenberg Gallery.

Later in life, Getz suffered from advanced Alzheimer's disease. In 1992, Gibson Danes, fearful that he would no longer be able to properly care for his wife, took both his life and that of Ilse Getz. They were found dead in their garage from acute carbon monoxide toxicity after breathing the fumes of their idling car.
Provenance:
The papers were donated in 2001 by Patricia Getz-Gentle, the daughter of Ilse Getz.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.
Occupation:
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Collagists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Topic:
Women artists  Search this
Women painters  Search this
Genre/Form:
Diaries
Photographs
Citation:
Ilse Getz Papers, 1928-1999. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.getzilse
See more items in:
Ilse Getz papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9eaa347d5-7fa5-4528-9c0e-cfbdfce62a96
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-getzilse
Online Media:

Claudia DeMonte and Ed McGowin papers

Creator:
DeMonte, Claudia, 1947-  Search this
McGowin, Ed, 1938-  Search this
Extent:
7.2 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Video recordings
Date:
1960-2018
Summary:
The papers of Claudia DeMonte and Ed McGowin measure 7.2 linear feet and date between 1960 and 2018. The papers primarily document Claudia DeMonte's career as a painter, and to a lesser extent her husband's career, through correspondence with family, friends, colleagues, and art institutions; notebooks, poetry, and other writings; scrapbooks; curriculum vitas, awards and certificates, commissions, and other professional activity; exhibition announcements and catalogs, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and other printed material; sketchbooks and other artwork; personal photographs, portraits, of artwork, and other photographic material.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of Claudia DeMonte and Ed McGowin measure 7.2 linear feet and date between 1960 and 2018. The papers primarily document Claudia DeMonte's career as a painter, and to a lesser extent her husband's career, through correspondence with family, friends, colleagues, and art institutions; notebooks, poetry, and other writings; scrapbooks; curriculum vitas, awards and certificates, commissions, and other professional activity; exhibition announcements and catalogs, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and other printed material; sketchbooks and other artwork; personal photographs, portraits, of artwork, and other photographic material.

Correspondence includes letters and postcards to and from family, friends, colleagues, and art institutions.

Writings includes a file of poetry written by DeMonte, manuscripts of books written by DeMonte, and a series of notebooks. Some of the notebooks are a combination of notes and sketches.

Scrapbooks consist of eight scrapbooks consisting of mixed material such as notes, photographs, sketches, and printed material.

Professional material consists of awards and certificates, a large number of calendars, commision work including an art project for the University of Northern Iowa completed by both DeMonte and McGowin, and a number of VHS and Betamax cassettes documenting DeMonte's career and interviews in connection with her Women of the World exhibition.

Printed material consists of newspaper clippings, magazine articles, exhibition announcements and catalogs, exhibition posters, and newsletters.

Artwork consists of a file of drawings and some sketchbooks.

Photographic material consists of photographs and slides of DeMonte, her artwork, and some of her exhibitions. There is also a file of photographs of DeMonte and McGowin at the White House with First Lady Laura Bush, and there are personal photographs of DeMonte and McGowin traveling and with family and friends.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into seven series.

Series 1: Correspondence, 1967-2013 (1.7 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)

Series 2: Writings, 1975-2013 (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 2-3)

Series 3: Scrapbooks, 1967-2009 (1.0 linear feet; Box 3, 9-10)

Series 4: Professional Activity Files, 1964-2013 (1.7 linear feet; Boxes 3-5, 9)

Series 5: Printed Material, 1960-2018 (1.9 linear feet; Boxes 5-7)

Series 6: Artwork, circa 1973 (0.1 linear feet; Box 7)

Series 7: Photographic Material, circa 1977-2010 (0.3 linear feet; Boxes 7-8)
Biographical / Historical:
Claudia DeMonte (1947- ) was born and raised in Astoria, New York City. She has more than 100 one-person shows and 600 group exhibitions nationally and internationally, including exhibitions at the Corcoran Museum, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Mississippi Museum, Tucson Museum, Flint Institute of Art, Museum of the Southwest, etc.

Her work is in numerous museum permanent collections, including the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Stamford Museum, Boca Raton Museum, and in major corporate collections such as those of Hyatt Regency Hotels, Exxon, Citibank and Siemens. Her public commissions have come from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Brooklyn Library System, Queens Supreme Court, Prudential Life Insurance, the State of New Mexico, and New York City School Construction Authority.

DeMonte is also the curator of "Women of the World: A Global Collection of Art." This traveling exhibition, with accompanying books, includes works of women from 177 countries dealing with the images of women.

DeMonte's work is heavily influenced by her travels to over 80 countries, her interest in the roles of women in contemporary society and Outsider Art, a collection compiled with her husband, artist Ed McGowin.

For 33 years, DeMonte has served on the faculty of the University of Maryland, where she was named Distinguished Scholar Teacher and Professor Emerita. In 2006, She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the College of Santa Fe.

DeMonte presently lives with her husband in New York City and Kent, Connecticut.

Ed McGowin (1938- ) was born in 1938 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and grew up in Mississippi and Alabama, receiving the M.A. from the University of Alabama. He has had one-person exhibitions at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C.; the Baltimore Museum; and the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris, France. Since 1979, McGowin has executed major outdoor commissions for numerous public and private organizations, often collaborating with his wife, Claudia DeMonte.
Related Materials:
Also found in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Claudia DeMonte conducted by Liza Kirwin between February 13 and April 24, 1991; and the Ed McGowin papers, 1962-1998.
Provenance:
The Claudia DeMonte and Ed McGowin papers were donated in 1994 by Claudia DeMonte and in 2020 by Claudia DeMonte and Ed McGowin.
Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References Services for more information.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Mixed-media artists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Educators -- Maryland -- College Park  Search this
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Collagists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Topic:
Women artists  Search this
Women sculptors  Search this
Women educators  Search this
Genre/Form:
Video recordings
Citation:
Claudia DeMonte and Ed McGowin papers, 1960-2018. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.democlau
See more items in:
Claudia DeMonte and Ed McGowin papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw98cf90804-0751-4bb3-b276-8f730e83692b
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-democlau

Blind Washerwoman, (painting)

Painter:
Flagg, Charles Noel 1848-1916  Search this
Medium:
Oil
Type:
Paintings
Date:
1881
Topic:
State of Being--Disabled--Blind  Search this
Occupation--Domestic--Laundry  Search this
Figure female  Search this
Control number:
IAP 82320412
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_199063

Blind Musician, (painting)

Painter:
Unknown  Search this
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Type:
Paintings
Owner/Location:
New Britain Museum of American Art 56 Lexington Street New Britain Connecticut 06052 Accession Number: 73.15
Topic:
State of Being--Disabled--Blind  Search this
Performing Arts--Music  Search this
Figure  Search this
Control number:
IAP 07130620
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_372729

The Blind Man of Paris, (painting)

Painter:
Noble, Thomas Satterwhite 1835-1907  Search this
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Type:
Paintings
Owner/Location:
Yale University Art Gallery 1111 Chapel Street New Haven Connecticut 06520 Accession Number: 1975.12
Date:
Ca. 1870-1880
Topic:
Figure male--Full length  Search this
State of Being--Disabled--Blind  Search this
Cityscape--Street  Search this
Cityscape--France--Paris  Search this
Control number:
IAP 07261392
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_38148

Harry Siddons Mowbray and Mowbray family papers, 1872-1976

Creator:
Mowbray, Harry Siddons, 1858-1928  Search this
Subject:
McKim, Charles Follen  Search this
Mowbray, Florence Millard  Search this
Mead, William Rutherford  Search this
Mowbray, George S.  Search this
Mowbray, George Mordey  Search this
Sherwood, Herbert F. (Herbert Francis)  Search this
Mowbray, Helen Amelia  Search this
American Academy in Rome  Search this
Pierpont Morgan Library  Search this
University Club (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
United States. Commission of Fine Arts  Search this
Type:
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Prints
Sketches
Etchings
Diaries
Place:
Larz Anderson Park (Brookline, Mass.)
Citation:
Harry Siddons Mowbray and Mowbray family papers, 1872-1976. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Muralists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Mural painting and decoration  Search this
Flags -- United States  Search this
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Theme:
Diaries  Search this
Lives of artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)7034
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)209167
AAA_collcode_mowbharr
Theme:
Diaries
Lives of artists
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_209167
Online Media:

Harry Siddons Mowbray and Mowbray family papers

Creator:
Mowbray, H. Siddons (Harry Siddons), 1858-1928  Search this
Names:
American Academy in Rome  Search this
Pierpont Morgan Library  Search this
United States. Commission of Fine Arts  Search this
University Club (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
McKim, Charles Follen, 1847-1909  Search this
Mead, William Rutherford, 1846-1928  Search this
Mowbray, Florence Millard  Search this
Mowbray, George Mordey, d. 1891  Search this
Mowbray, George S.  Search this
Mowbray, Helen Amelia, d. 1910  Search this
Sherwood, Herbert F. (Herbert Francis), 1872-  Search this
Extent:
7.5 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Prints
Sketches
Etchings
Diaries
Place:
Larz Anderson Park (Brookline, Mass.)
Date:
1872-1976
Summary:
The papers of painter and muralist Harry Siddons Mowbray (1858-1928) and the Mowbray family measure 7.5 linear feet and date from 1872 to 1976. The papers document Mowbray's career as a painter and decorative muralist as well as his activities with the Commission of Fine Arts, the American Academy in Rome, and the Sculpture Commission of Connecticut. The papers include biographical materials, scattered correspondence, nineteen diaries, personal business records, commission files, organization files, writings and notes, printed materials, three scrapbooks, photographs, and artworks. There are scattered family papers of Helen Mowbray, Florence Mowbray, George Mowbray, and George Siddons Mowbray.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of painter and muralist Harry Siddons Mowbray (1858-1928) and the Mowbray family measure 7.5 linear feet and date from 1872 to 1976. The papers document Mowbray's career as a painter and decorative muralist as well as his activities with the Commission of Fine Arts, the American Academy in Rome, and the Sculpture Commission of Connecticut. The papers include biographical materials, scattered correspondence, nineteen diaries, personal business records, commission files, organization files, writings and notes, printed materials, three scrapbooks, photographs, and artworks. There are scattered family papers of Helen Mowbray, Florence Mowbray, George Mowbray, and George Siddons Mowbray.

Biographical material includes biographical sketches, certificates, obituaries and estate records, and school material. Also found are printed materials from memorial dedications, ceremonies, and dinners held in Washington, D.C., such as menus, invitations, and admission tickets.

Correspondence is scattered and consists of letters from family, professional colleagues, artists, and architects including Charles McKim and William R. Mead. Florence Mowbray's correspondence includes thank you notes and condolences.

Diaries include seventeen written by Harry Siddons Mowbray, one by Helen Mowbray, and one by Florence Mowbray. Harry Siddons Mowbray's diaries date from 1876 to 1927 and reference a trip to the Azores, current events, his career and works of art, and his service with the Commission of Fine Arts.

Writings and notes consist of Mowbray's handwritten autobiography, school writings, lists, and a biography of Mowbray by Herbert Sherwood.

Personal business records consist of a French military sponsorship, gift acknowledgements and receipts.

Commission files include correspondence, printed materials, and writings relating to Mowbray's works of art at: Larz Anderson House, Appellate Court in New York City; Federal Building in Cleveland, Ohio; Gunn Memorial Library in Washington, CT; the Life of Christ Series; Madison Square Church in New York City; Morgan Library in New York City; St. John's Church in Washington, CT; University Club in New York City; and F. W. Vanderbilt House in Hyde Park, New York.

Organization files document Mowbray's participation with the American Academy in Rome, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the Sculpture Commission of Connecticut. Files generall include organizational history, correspondence, printed material, writings, reports, meeting minutes, and printed material. Of note are materials relating to the standardization of the flag of the United States.

Printed material includes blank stationery and postcards, clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and an issue of Collector's News.

Photographs include two photo albums complied by the Mowbray family, portraits of Mowbray, snapshots with colleagues and friends, and photos of works of art.

One scrapbook compiled by Harry Siddons Mowbray relates to his travels in Rome in 1903-1904. Annother documents his artwork and career, and the third contains clippings concerning his chemical inventions.

Artworks include sketches, prints, and etchings by Harry Siddons Mowbray and others.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged as 11 series. Glass plate negatives are housed separately and closed to researchers.

Missing Title

Series 1: Biographical Information, 1872-1965 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1, 13, 15)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1873-1957 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 3: Diaries, 1876-1929 (1.2 linear feet; Box 1-2)

Series 4: Writings and Notes, circa 1870-circa 1930 (0.2 linear feet; Box 3)

Series 5: Personal Business and Financial Records, 1877-1966 (3 folders; Box 3)

Series 6: Commission Files, 1896-1979 (0.4 linear feet; Box 3)

Series 7: Organization Files, 1904-1928 (0.7 linear feet; Box 3-4, 13, 15-16)

Series 8: Printed Material, 1876-1976 (0.2 linear feet; Box 4, 16)

Series 9: Photographs, circa 1874-circa 1928 (4.7 linear feet; Box 4-14, 17-18)

Series 10: Scrapbooks, circa 1890-1920 (0.3 linear feet; Box 5, 13-14)

Series 11: Artwork, 1870-1910 (3 folders; Box 5, 13)
Biographical / Historical:
Harry Siddons Mowbray (1858-1928) was a painter, muralist, and public servant who was active in New York, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C..

Born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1858, Harry Siddons was orphaned at an early age. He was sent to live with his mother's sister Annie and uncle, George Mowbray, whose name he adopted. Harry Siddons Mowbray attended West Point Military Academy but left to pursue a career as a painter. Upon moving to Paris, Mowbray enrolled at the Atelier Bonnant where he studied under Léon Bonnat. Mowbray received attention for his decorative murals thoughout the East Coast of the United States. His commissions included the J.P. Morgan Library, F. W. Vanderbilt house, Larz Anderson house, Appellate Courthouse of New York City, St. John's Church in Washignton Connecticut, and the Federal Building in Cleveland, Ohio. Later in his career, Mowbray returned to painting and completed theLife of Christ series of works.

In addition to painting, Mowbray served on public commissions and committees. He was a member of the federal Commission of Fine Arts from 1921 until his death in 1928. During this time, he was involved in the planning of many Washington, D.C. memorials and public works including the standardization of the flag of the United States of America. He served as director of the American Academy in Rome from 1903-1904.

Harry Siddons Mowbray married Helen Amelia Millard in 1888. They had one child, George Siddons Mowbray. After his wife's death, Mowbray married her sister, Florence in 1915. Together, Florence and Mowbray had two children. He died in 1928. After her husband's death, Florence Mowbray was active in publishing her husband's autobiography.
Separated Materials:
The Archives of American Art also holds material lent for microfilming (reel 2895) including Mowbray's letters to his son George, travel diaries of Helen Mowbray, writings, artworks, and a photograph. Lent materials were returned to the lender and are not described in the collection container inventory.
Provenance:
The Harry Siddons Mowbray and Mowbray family papers were donated in multiple accretions by Mrs. Henry S. Mowbray, Mowbray's widow, Hugh McKittrick Jones, Jr., Mowbray's son in law, and Mrs. Helen M. Rogers from 1979-1983. Mrs. Helen M. Rogers also loaned materials for microfilming in 1983.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Painters -- Connecticut  Search this
Topic:
Muralists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Mural painting and decoration  Search this
Flags -- United States  Search this
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Genre/Form:
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Prints
Sketches
Etchings
Diaries
Citation:
Harry Siddons Mowbray and Mowbray family papers, 1872-1976. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.mowbharr
See more items in:
Harry Siddons Mowbray and Mowbray family papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9427779e6-0055-4892-aef8-0287d36de439
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-mowbharr
Online Media:

Thomas Prichard Rossiter and Rossiter Family papers, 1840-1961

Creator:
Rossiter, Thomas Prichard, 1818-1871  Search this
Subject:
Remington, Frederic  Search this
Rossiter, Ehrick Kensett  Search this
Rossiter, Thomas Prichard  Search this
Soglow, Otto  Search this
Tack, Augustus Vincent  Search this
Sartain, William  Search this
Scott-Moncrieff, David  Search this
Whitmore, Elizabeth  Search this
Keller, A. J.  Search this
Jay, John  Search this
Hutt, Henry  Search this
Hunt, William Morris  Search this
Low, Will Hicok  Search this
Kimball, Fiske  Search this
Kent, Rockwell  Search this
Kensett, John Frederick  Search this
Mowbray, H. Siddons (Harry Siddons)  Search this
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese  Search this
Morris, William  Search this
Melchers, Gari  Search this
Pearson, Ralph M.  Search this
Gibson, Charles Dana  Search this
Peabody, George  Search this
Nicholls, Rhoda Holmes  Search this
Newell, Peter  Search this
French, Daniel Chester  Search this
Craig, Frank  Search this
Hambidge, Jay  Search this
Cooper, James Fenimore  Search this
Coffin, William A. (William Anderson)  Search this
Cox, Kenyon  Search this
Cory, Fanny Y.  Search this
Birch, Reginald Bathurst  Search this
Bevan, Edith Rossiter  Search this
Castaigne, Andre  Search this
Cadwalader-Guild, Emma Marie  Search this
Archipenko, Alexander  Search this
Beckwith, J. Carroll (James Carroll)  Search this
Beaux, Cecilia  Search this
Tryon, Dwight William  Search this
Type:
Sketches
Sketchbooks
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Citation:
Thomas Prichard Rossiter and Rossiter Family papers, 1840-1961. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Architects -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Theme:
Lives of artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)8395
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)210569
AAA_collcode_rossthom
Theme:
Lives of artists
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_210569
Online Media:

Nina Howell Starr papers

Creator:
Starr, Nina Howell, 1903-2000  Search this
Names:
International Women's Art Festival  Search this
Museum of American Folk Art  Search this
Photographic Historical Society of New York  Search this
Professional Women's Photographers, Inc.  Search this
Sharon Arts Center  Search this
Southern Regional Council  Search this
Brandt, Helene, 1936-  Search this
Cohen, Stephenie  Search this
Coke, Van Deren, 1921-  Search this
Connor, Linda  Search this
Daitz, Evelyne Z.  Search this
DiSpirito, Henry, 1898-1995  Search this
Evans, Minnie, 1892-  Search this
Evans, Walker, 1903-1975  Search this
Ghent, Henri, 1926-  Search this
Kanaga, Consuelo, 1894-  Search this
Kernan, Margo, 1927-  Search this
Kruger, Louise, 1924-  Search this
Lippard, Lucy R.  Search this
Macdonald-Wright, Stanton, 1890-1973  Search this
Mainardi, Patricia  Search this
Morgan, Barbara Brooks, 1900-1992  Search this
Putnam, Wallace, 1899-1989  Search this
Ringgold, Faith  Search this
Rose, Ruth Starr, 1887-1965  Search this
Savage, Naomi, 1927-2005  Search this
Sherwood, Maggie, 1922-1984  Search this
Siskind, Aaron  Search this
Strand, Paul, 1890-1976  Search this
Szarwarski, John  Search this
Uelsmann, Jerry, 1934-  Search this
Extent:
21.2 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Interviews
Drawings
Sketches
Transcripts
Sound recordings
Prints
Date:
circa 1933-1996
Summary:
The papers of photographer and art historian Nina Howell Starr measure 21.2 linear feet and date from circa 1933 to 1996. The papers contain research files about various art historical topics, museums and galleries, photography, and artists. There are extensive files documenting Starr's relationship as researcher, dealer, and friend of folk painter Minnie Evans. Additionally, the papers include biographical materials, writings, speeches, project files, printed material collected or authored by Starr, and hundreds of artistic and documentary photographs and negatives created by Starr depicting her travels, Minnie Evans' paintings, roadside folk art, and other topics.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of photographer and art historian Nina Howell Starr measure 21.2 linear feet and date from circa 1933 to 1996. The papers contain research files about various art historical topics, museums and galleries, photography, and artists. There are extensive files documenting Starr's relationship as researcher, dealer, and friend of folk painter Minnie Evans. Additionally, the papers include biographical materials, writings, speeches, project files, printed material collected or authored by Starr, and hundreds of artistic and documentary photographs and negatives created by Starr depicting her travels, Minnie Evans' paintings, roadside folk art, and other topics.

Biographical materials are scattered and include grant and publication applications, curriculum vitae, lists of artwork, and miscellany.

Starr's lectures, writings, and project files are arranged into one series. They include Starr's student writings, a notebook about Civil Rights, files documenting her work on a Florida public housing project, the Southern Regional Council, and the League of Women Voters. A few files of general writings and lectures mostly concern folk artist Minnie Evans and the exhibition Women Photograph Men, held at the International Women's Arts Festival in 1976.

Subject files on artists, art history topics, photographers and photography (including Starr's work), and on folk artist and friend Minne Evans comprise the bulk of the collection. The files are a mix of collated materials and primary sources created by Starr and others and many contain correspondence, notes, photographs, and a few sketches and orginal prints. Also included are materials related to professional and organizational groups in which Starr was involved, including the Professional Women's Photographers, Inc., the Photographic Historical Society of New York, and the Museum of American Folk Art; files on several of Starr's exhibitions; and files on artists that contain printed materials, correspondence, and photographs. The file on Ruth Starr Rose contains prints and drawings. There are also photographs taken by Stephanie Cohen. Particularly rich files are found for Stephanie Cohen; Van Deren Coke, Director of the George Eastman Company; Evelyn Daitz, Director of the Witkin Gallery; Henry DiSpirito; Walker Evans; the Fotofolio printing company; curator Henri Ghent; photographer Consuelo Kanaga and husband Wallace Putnam; Margot Starr Kernan; Lucy Lippard; Stanton Mac-Donald Wright; Sharon Arts Center; photographer Paul Strand; curator John Szarwarski; and photographer Jerry Uelsman.

The collection also documents the friendship between painter Minnie Evans and Starr, and Starr's business dealings on Evans' behalf. There is correspondence about and with Evans, several sound recordings of interviews conducted by Starr and others with Evans, many with transcripts, financial documents, publications about Evans including exhibition catalogs, clippings, journal articles and monographs, two posters, a scrapbook, and one sketch by Evans.

Printed material includes published articles, exhibition catalogs and announcements, and clippings about Starr.

Photographic materials are extensive and include photographs and slides taken by Starr of friends, family, artwork by Minnie Evans, events, exhibition openings, world travels, and folk art, especially roadside. Prominent artists and art historians photographed include: photographers Maggie Sherwood, Naomi Savage, Barbara Morgan, Linda Connor, Aaron Siskind, Consuelo Kanaga, Faith Ringgold, and Walker Evans; sculptors Louise Kruger and Helene Brandt; feminist and art historian Pat Mainardi; and curators Henri Ghent and John Szarkowski. Starr's artistic photographic work is also represented, and includes two silver gelatin prints of Minnie Evans, and subject studies on hands, people, and nature, among others.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 6 series.

Missing Title

Series 1: Biographical material, 1954-circa 1990 (8 folders; Box 1)

Series 2: Writings, Speeches and Projects, 1933-1995 (1.1 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)

Series 3: Subject Files, circa 1939-1996 (8.3 linear feet; Boxes 2-10)

Series 4: Minnie Evans, 1962-1996 (3.7 linear feet; Boxes 10-13, 23, OV 24)

Series 5: Printed Material, 1936-1995 (2.7 linear feet; Boxes 13-16, 23)

Series 6: Photographic Material, circa 1939-1993 (5.4 linear feet; Boxes 16-23, OV 24)
Biographical / Historical:
Nina Howell Starr (1903-2000) was a photographer, art dealer, and art historian who worked primarily in New York City. Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1903 as Cornelia Margaret Howell, Starr attended Wellesley College and graduated from Barnard in 1926. Also in 1926, she married Nathan Comfort Starr, an English professor, and, over the years the couple lived in Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, and New York City.

In 1963, at the age of 60, Starr received the first M.F.A. in photography granted by the University of Florida. Starr exhibited widely in both solo and group exhibitions, including Magic Lantern (Photographer's Gallery, London, 1976), and the Strength of Women (Witken Gallery, 1991), and numerous shows featuring photographs of outsider art. Her "New Yorker" project became an exhibition in 2016. Her work is owned by several prominent museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography.

As art historian, self-proclaimed critic, and civil rights and feminist advocate, Starr lectured widely, wrote articles and letters to editors, and corresponded with many notable art world figures. She became especially interested in outsider and folk art. Starr met outsider artist Minnie Evans in 1962 and became Evans' lifelong friend, advocate, and representative dealer. She wrote about Evans and introduced Evans' works to galleries and other exhibition spaces in New York, including the Whitney Museum, where she guest-curated an exhibition of Evans' work in 1975.

Starr was an active member of professional organizations including the Photographic Historical Society of New York, Professional Women's Photographers, Inc., and the Museum of American Folk Art where she served on the Advisory Committee.

Nina Howell Starr died in 2000 in Connecticut at the age of 97.
Provenance:
The Nina Howell Starr papers were donated by Nina Howell Starr in 1996.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Art historians -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Photographers -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Art dealers -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Topic:
Folk art  Search this
Civil rights  Search this
African American art  Search this
Folk art -- Photographs  Search this
Women photographers  Search this
Photography  Search this
African American artists  Search this
Genre/Form:
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Interviews
Drawings
Sketches
Transcripts
Sound recordings
Prints
Citation:
Nina Howell Starr papers, circa 1933-1996. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.starnina
See more items in:
Nina Howell Starr papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9dccd352c-b391-49d6-ae20-8b00e1e280d3
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-starnina
Online Media:

Cleve Gray papers

Creator:
Gray, Cleve  Search this
Names:
Berry-Hill Galleries  Search this
Betty Parsons Gallery  Search this
Connecticut. Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film  Search this
Jacques Seligmann & Co  Search this
Neuberger Museum of Art  Search this
Pratt Institute  Search this
Princeton University  Search this
Rhode Island School of Design  Search this
Barzun, Jacques, 1907-  Search this
Calder, Alexander, 1898-1976  Search this
Davis, Jim, 1901-1974  Search this
Dillenberger, Jane  Search this
Duchamp, Marcel, 1887-1968  Search this
Ernst, Jimmy, 1920-1984  Search this
Gabo, Naum, 1890-1977  Search this
Grace, Louise N.  Search this
Gray, Francine du Plessix  Search this
Lipchitz, Jacques, 1891-1973  Search this
Marin, John, 1870-1953  Search this
Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956  Search this
Richter, Hans, 1888-1976  Search this
Smith, David, 1906-1965  Search this
Villon, Jacques, 1875-1963  Search this
Weber, Nicholas Fox, 1947-  Search this
Extent:
9.2 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Poems
Articles
Photographs
Reviews (documents)
Notes
Illustrations
Notebooks
Sketches
Drafts (documents)
Video recordings
Sound recordings
Interviews
Manuscripts
Paintings
Prints
Watercolors
Drawings
Lectures
Date:
1933-2005
Summary:
The Cleve Gray papers, 1933-2005, measure 9.2 linear feet. Papers include biographical material, alphabetical files, writings, artwork, audio/visual records, artifacts, printed material, and photographs. Extensive alphabetical files contain personal and professional correspondence as well as subject files relating to projects and interests. Especially well-documented are: Gray's involvement with the Vietnam protest movement; and Threnody, his best-known work composed of fourteen large panels lamenting the dead of both sides sides in Vietnam, commissioned by the Neuberger Museum of Art.
Scope and Content Note:
The Cleve Gray papers, 1933-2005, measure 9.2 linear feet. Papers include biographical material, alphabetical files, writings, artwork, audio/visual records, artifacts, printed material, and photographs. Extensive alphabetical files contain personal and professional correspondence as well as subject files relating to projects and interests. Especially well-documented are: Gray's involvement with the Vietnam movement; and Threnody, his best-known work composed of fourteen large panels lamenting the dead of both sides sides in Vietnam, commissioned by the Neuberger Museum of Art.

Among the biographical material are award and membership certificates, biographical notes, and personal documentation.

The alphabetical files contain Cleve Gray's personal and professional correspondence, as well as subject files relating to projects and interests. Correspondence is with friends and family, colleagues, publishers, museum curators and directors, art dealers, collectors, and fans. Among the correspondents of note are: Jacques Barzun, James E. Davis, Naum Gabo, Louise N. Grace, Hans and Fridel Richter, and Jacques and Gaby Villon. Other substantial correspondence includes: Berry-Hill Galleries, Betty Parsons Gallery, Connecticut Commission on the Arts, Jacques Seligmann and Co., Neuberger Museum of Art, Pratt Institute, Princeton University, and Rhode Island School of Design. Subject files mostly consist of correspondence, but include printed material and some photographs. Among the subject files are: Art Collection of Cleve and Francine Gray, Artist-Dealer Consignments and Visual Artists' Rights Act of 1989, Artists' Tax Equity Act of 1979, Promised Gifts to Museums, Threnody, Vestments, and Vietnam Protest. Of particular interest are files relating to the Estate of Hans Richter (Cleve Gray, executor), and Gray's research correspondence and illustrations for his Cosmopolitan article "Women-Leaders of Modern Art."

Writings are manuscripts and drafts, research materials, notes, and miscellaneous writings by Cleve Gray and other authors. Those by Gray include articles and catalog introductions on a wide range of art-related topics, as well as book and exhibition reviews. Also found are a book proposal, texts and notes for lectures and talks, miscellaneous notes, poems, political statements, and student papers. Of particular interest are autobiographical notes in the form of a chronology that his biographer, Nicholas Fox Weber, cited as an "autochronology."

Among the writings by other authors are pieces about Cleve Gray including Nicholas Fox Weber's manuscript Cleve Gray. A significant amount of material relates to three books edited by Gray: David Smith by David Smith: Sculpture and Writings, Hans Richter, and John Marin. Research material survives for an unpublished volume, Naum Gabo. Also included are notes relating to his translation of A l'Infinitif by Marcel Duchamp. Jane Daggett Dillenberger is represented by a lecture, "The Resurrection in Art." The remaining items by other authors are unsigned; of particular interest is a small notebook of reminiscences and notes about Jackson Pollock.

Artwork by Cleve Gray consists mostly drawings and sketches, and a small number of paintings, prints, and watercolors. Works by other artists consist are an unsigned mobile of paper cut-outs, possibly by Alexander Calder, and a pencil drawing signed Dick (probably Richard Avedon).

Audio recordings are a radio broadcast featuring Cleve Gray, several lectures by Gray on John Marin, and a lecture titled "Meaning in the Visual Arts." Other recordings are of Hans Richter and an interview with Jimmy Ernst conducted by Francine du Plessix Gray. Also found is a videocassette of "Glenville School Students at SUNY (Lincoln Center Activity)."

Artifacts are a Chinese scroll representative of those that hung in Cleve Gray's studio, two of his paintbrushes, Aberdeen-Angus Breeders' Association blue ribbon, and Neuberger Museum of Art Lifetime Achievement Award.

The vast majority of printed material - articles, clippings, exhibition catalogs and announcements, reproductions of art work, etc. - are about or by Cleve Gray. Miscellaneous items and publications mentioning Gray consist of annual reports, brochures, calendars, newsletters, programs, etc. Clippings about Vietnam and Vietnam protest memorabilia reflect his passionate involvement in the anti-war movement; a small number of these items mention Gray or were written by him.

Photographs are of artwork, events, people, places, and miscellaneous subjects. Most of the art work appearing in the photographs is by Cleve Gray and includes images of destroyed paintings. Also found is an original print of Photo Abstraction by Gray, circa 1934. Of particular note are photographs of Threnody, among them preparatory drawings and views of the work in progress. Photographs of artwork by other artists include Louise N. Grace, Jacques Lipchitz, John Marin, Hans Richter, and Jacques Villon.

Photographs of people are mainly portraits of Gray, and views of him with his wife and sons. Other individuals appearing in photographs are Hans Richter and some of Richter's descendants. Pictures of places consist of Gray's studio.

Events are an unidentified exhibition opening. Miscellaneous subjects are mostly exhibition installations. Illustrations consist of photographs published in David Smith by David Smith: Sculpture and Writings. Also found are small number of negatives and color transparencies.
Arrangement:
The collection is organized into 8 series:

Missing Title

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1943-circa 2001 (Box 1; 0.1 linear ft.)

Series 2: Alphabetical Files, 1936-2005 (Boxes 1-5, 9; 4.3 linear ft.)

Series 3: Writings, 1935-2000 (Boxes 5-6; 0.85 linear ft.)

Series 4: Artwork, circa 1933-1987 (Boxes 6, 9, OV 12; 0.45 linear ft.)

Series 5: Audio/Visual Records, 1971-1989 (Box 6; 0.25 linear ft.)

Series 6: Artifacts, 1957-1999 (Box 6, RD 11; 0.45 linear ft.)

Series 7: Printed Material, 1933-2005 (Boxes 7-8; 1.25 linear ft.)

Series 8: Photographs, circa 1934-2002 (Boxes 8-10; 1.15 linear ft.)
Biographical Note:
Abstract Expressionist painter, sculptor, and writer Cleve Gray (1918-2004) lived and worked in Connecticut where he was politically active in the Vietnam protest movement and other liberal causes.

Born Cleve Ginsberg in New York City (the family changed its name to Gray in 1936), he attended the Ethical Culture School and at a young age developed a fascination with color and paint. At the urging of friends, Cleve's parents allowed him to accompany a school friend for lessons with George Bellows' student Antonia Nell. She encouraged and inspired the young artist, and a still life he painted in her class was shown at the National Academy of Design's 1932 annual exhibition. Miss Nell also introduced him to Louise N. Grace, an artist who became a good friend and had a lasting influence on him. While a student at Phillips Academy, Cleve studied painting with Bartlett Hayes and aspired to paint in France. Upon his graduation in 1936, he was awarded the Samuel F. B. Morse Prize for most promising art student.

Gray's mother was always supportive of his career choice. His businessman father, who didn't understand his son's desire to be an artist, insisted on a college education. Cleve chose Princeton, where he majored in art and archaeology, and studied painting with James E. Davis. His senior thesis was on Chinese landscape painting; both Eastern philosophy and art were long-term influences on Gray's work and outlook. He graduated summa cum laude in 1940, and then spent several months painting while living at the farm of a family friend in Mendham, New Jersey.

When a doctor suggeted that a dry climate might relieve sinus and asthma problems, Gray moved to Tucson, Arizona. Once settled in the desert, he contacted Louise N. Grace, whom he had met as a young teenager through his art instructor. Miss Grace, an artist and daughter of the founder of W. R. Grace and Co., was a highly cultured and independent woman older than his parents. The summer before Gray entered Phillips Academy, she had hired him to brush ground color onto canvases for murals she was painting for "Eleven Arches," her home in Tuscon then under construction. Miss Grace invited Gray to visit "Eleven Arches" to see the completed murals, and despite the substantial age difference, their friendship deepened; Gray found in her intellectual and spiritual guidance that was lacking in his own family. He remained in Tucson until enlisting in the U. S. Army in 1942, and they corresponded frequently during the the war. When a stroke in 1948 prevented Miss Grace from participating in the extensive tour of Europe she was arranging for a small group of friends, including Gray, she provided sufficient funds and insisted he make the trip on his own. Another stroke, suffered while Gray was traveling, left her in a coma; he was not permitted to see her again. Upon her death in 1954, Gray inherited "Eleven Arches."

Between 1943 and 1946, Gray was stationed in England, France, and Germany, serving in Army Signal Intelligence. Most of his work was performed at night, and he spent his free time drawing. While in London, Gray produced many colored pencil drawings of buildings that had been bombed. In France, a Red Cross volunteered to introduce him to Jacques Villon; although unfamiliar with the artist, Gray knew of Villon's brother, Marcel Duchamp, and accepted the invitation. Jacques and Gaby Villon lived near Gray's billet and he became a frequent visitor. Their friendship was important to his development as an artist. After being discharged from the Army in 1946, Gray remained in France to work with Villon who introduced him to the study of color and the concept of intellectual quality in painting. Gray also studied informally with André Lhote, Villon's former teacher. "American Painters in Paris," an exhibition presented in 1946 at Galerie Durand-Ruel, included work by Cleve Gray.

He returned to New York City in 1946. In the tight post-war rental market Gray managed to find a small room upstairs from a grocery store on East 106th Street for use as a studio. He commenced painting the London Ruins series based on drawings he had made during the war, and began thinking about exhibiting in New York. Gray secured introductions to Pierre Matisse, Curt Valentin, and Dorothy Miller. They encouraged him, but no opportunities came his way until Germain Seligmann, whose gallery was expanding its scope to include contemporary art, followed the advice of Curt Valentin and looked at Gray's work. Gary's first solo exhibition, held at Jacques Seligmann and Co., included selections from the London Ruins series, paintings done in Maine and Arizona, and a few portraits. The New York Times called it "an auspicious first," and one of the London Ruins series was selected by Edward Alden Jewell for the "Critic's Exhibition" at Grand Central Gallery.

Gray found New York City too frenetic. In 1949 he bought a large, old house in Warren, Connecticut, and lived and worked at "Graystones" for the remainder of his life. Half of a 6-car garage was converted to a studio; many years later, his studio moved to a barn, its renovation and design planned by sculptor and architect Tony Smith.

He married Francine du Plessix in 1957. Always interested in literature and philosophy, in the 1960s Francine du Plessix Gray began contributing articles to The New Yorker and is still affiliated with the magazine. Her reviews and articles appeared in prominent publications, and she wrote several award-winning novels and biographies. Their sons, Thaddeus and Luke (now a painter), were born in 1959 and 1961. Francine's mother, Tatiana du Plessix (the hat designer Tatiana of Saks), and step-father, the sculptor Alexander Liberman (also former art director of Vogue and later editorial director of Condé Nast publications) became Cleve Gray's closest friends.

The paintings and drawings of Cleve Gray - first consisting of figures and portraits, and then abstract compositions - were often produced in series. The earliest series, London Ruins, grew from the colored pencil drawings made while stationed in London during World War II. Travels to France, Italy, Greece, Morocco, Hawaii, Spain, Egypt, Japan, and Czechoslovakia, inspired many series, among them: Etruscan, Augury, Ceres, Demeter Landscape, Hera, Morocco, Hawaii, Ramses, Perne, Hatshepsut, Roman Walls, Zen, and Prague. His hometown, the Holocaust, and musicians inspired other series: Warren, Sleepers Awake!, Bela Bartok, and Four Heads of Anton Bruckner. Some series were works on paper, others were collage canvases, and a few series later spawned prints. Gray began using acrylics in the 1940s. Although the medium offered many benefits, he did not always like its appearance and frequently returned to oils. Around 1966 Gray was painting almost exclusively with acrylic, and eventually developed a technique of thinning the paint and applying successive layers of color (sometimes by pouring or with a sponge) on cotton duck rather than traditional canvas.

Gray was attracted to sculpture, too, working in that medium at different points in his career. His first sculpture, in plaster, was completed in 1959. In the early 1960s he visited a commercial sand-casting foundry and became excited about learning to cast in bronze. He made about a dozen sculptures to cast in sand, but due to too much undercutting, their casting became too difficult a problem. Lava flows seen while in Hawaii during 1970 and 1971 inspired a return to sculpture. This time, he used wood, papier maché, and metal. Gray then decided these pieces should be cast in bronze, and he was determined to do it himself. Friends taught him the lost wax process and he began working at the Tallix Foundry in Peekskill, New York where, over the next year, he cast about forty bronzes.

Gray's best known work is Threnody, a lament for the dead of both sides in Vietnam. In 1972, Gray received a commission to fill a very large gallery of the soon-to-open Neuberger Museum of Art (State University of New York, College at Purchase) designed by Philip Johnson. Friends of the Neuberger Museum paid his expenses and Gray, who was enormously excited about the project he considered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, donated his time. Developing plans for the execution of Threnody consumed most of his time during 1972 and 1973. Composed of a series of fourteen panels, each approximately twenty feet square, the piece presented a number of technical challenges. It was constructed and painted in situ during the summer and early fall of 1973. Since then, Threnody has been reinstalled at the Neuberger Museum of Art on several occasions.

Gray was commissioned to design liturgical vestments for two Episcopal churches in Connecticut in the 1970s. A chasuble, stoles, and a mitre were commissioned by the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut in 1984.

He won the "Outdoor Art at the Station Competition," for Union Station, Hartford, Connecticut. His very large porcelain enamel tile mural, Movement in Space, was installed on the façade of the transportation center in 1988.

Gray began writing occasional articles and exhibition reviews in the late 1940s. His concern with rational structure in art led him to question Abstract Expressionism and write "Narcissus in Chaos." This article, published in 1959 by The American Scholar, drew considerable attention. In 1960, Cosmopolitan published "Women - Leaders of Modern Art" that featured Nell Blaine, Joan Brown, Elaine de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, Sonia Gretchoff, Grace Hartigan, Ethel Magafan, Louise Nevelson, and Georgia O'Keeffe. Between 1960 and 1970, Gray was a contributing editor of Art In America, producing numerous articles (a few co-authored with Francine) and reviews for the periodical. He edited three books, David Smith by David Smith: Scupture and Writings, Hans Richter, and John Marin, all published by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, and translated Marcel Duchamp's A l'Infinitif.

During the early 1960s, Gray became intensely focused on the situation in Vietnam. His first artistic response came in 1963 with Reverend Quan Duc, painted to commemorate a Buddhist monk who had immolated himself. Francine, too, felt strongly about the issue and over time the couple became increasingly active in the anti-war movement. They joined a number of organizations and helped to found a local chapter of Clergy and Laymen Concerned about Vietnam. The years 1968 and 1969 were an especially intense and active period for the Grays. They protested, wrote and spoke out against the war, raised funds to support anti-war political candidates, and on a few occasions were arrested and jailed. Writing for Art in America, editing the book series, and anti-war activities left little time for his art. In 1970 Gray refocused his attention on painting.

Beginning in 1947, Gray was always represented by a New York Gallery: Jacques Seligmann and Co. (1947-1959), Staempfli Gallery (1960-1965), Saidenberg Gallery (1965-1968), Betty Parsons Gallery (1968-1983), Armstrong Gallery (1984-1987), and Berry-Hill Galleries (1988-2003). He was represented by galleries in other cities, as well, but not as consistently or for such long periods.

He exhibited extensively in group and solo exhibitions throughout the United States and internationally. In addition to numerous solo exhibitions presented by the dealers who represented Gray, there were retrospective exhibitions at: Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Brooklyn Museum, Columbus Museum of Art, Krannert Art Museum (University of Illinois, Champaign), Princeton University Art Museum, Rhode Island School of Design, and Wadsworth Atheneum.

Many museums' permanent collections include the work of Cleve Gray, among them: Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Butler Institute of American Art, Columbus Museum of Art, Neuberger Museum of Art (SUNY, College at Purchase), the Museum of Modern Art (New York), Newark Museum, Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Phillips Collection, Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery (University of Nebraska, Lincoln), Smithsonian Institution, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, and Yale University Art Gallery.

Cleve Gray served as artist-in-residence at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art in 1963 and at the Honolulu Academy of Arts in 1970, both sponsored by Ford Foundation programs. In 1980, he was appointed an artist-in-residence at the American Academy in Rome, where Francine concurrently served as a writer-in-residence; they returned for shorter periods during each of the subsequent seven years. Cleve Gray was presented the Connecticut Arts Award in 1987, and the Neuberger Museum of Art Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. He was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Hartford in 1992, and was elected a member of The American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1998. In addition, he was a trustee of the Neuberger Museum of Art, New York Studio School, Rhode Island School of Design, and Wadsworth Atheneum.

Cleve Gray hit his head and suffered a massive subdural hematoma after falling on ice outside of his home. He died the following day, December 8, 2004.
Separated Material:
Exhibition catalogs and announcements and two scrapbooks donated to the Archives in 1967 and 1968 were microfilmed on reels D314-D315. Items on reel D315, transferred to the Smithsonian American Art Museum Library in 1975, are not described in this finding aid.
Provenance:
The Cleve Gray papers were donated to the Archives of American Art by Mr. Gray in 1967 and 1968. The bulk of the collection was given by his widow, Francine du Plessix Gray, in 2007 and 2008.
Restrictions:
Use of original material requires an appointment. Use of archival audiovisual recordigs with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Sculptors -- Connecticut  Search this
Painters -- Connecticut  Search this
Topic:
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- United States  Search this
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Protest Movements -- United States  Search this
Designers  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Women painters  Search this
Women sculptors  Search this
Genre/Form:
Poems
Articles
Photographs
Reviews (documents)
Notes
Illustrations
Notebooks
Sketches
Drafts (documents)
Video recordings
Sound recordings
Interviews
Manuscripts
Paintings
Prints
Watercolors
Drawings
Lectures
Citation:
Cleve Gray papers, 1933-2005. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.grayclev
See more items in:
Cleve Gray papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw92d3d47d0-baa3-4085-80f2-9b5d1730c052
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-grayclev
Online Media:

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