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{{Short description|Art museum and research institute in US}} |
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{{Infobox museum |
{{Infobox museum |
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| name = Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute |
| name = Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute |
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| logo = |
| logo = |
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| image |
| image = ClarkFull.jpg |
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| caption |
| caption = The Clark Art Institute |
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| map_type = USA Massachusetts |
| map_type = USA Massachusetts#USA |
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| latitude = |
| latitude = |
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| former_name = |
| former_name = |
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| director = [[Olivier Meslay]] |
| director = [[Olivier Meslay]] |
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| established = {{start date|1955}} |
| established = {{start date|1955}} |
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| location = 225 South St, Williamstown, MA 01267 |
| location = 225 South St, Williamstown, MA 01267 |
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| type = [[Art Museum]] and [[Research Institute]] |
| type = [[Art Museum]] and [[Research Institute]] |
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| accreditation = [[American Alliance of Museums]] |
| accreditation = [[American Alliance of Museums]] |
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| founder = [[Robert Sterling Clark]] and [[Francine Clark]] |
| founder = [[Robert Sterling Clark]] and [[Francine Clark]] |
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| architect = Daniel Deverell Perry, [[Tadao Ando]], [[Annabelle Selldorf]] |
| architect = Daniel Deverell Perry, [[Tadao Ando]], [[Annabelle Selldorf]] |
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| website = {{URL|clarkart.edu}} |
| website = {{URL|clarkart.edu}} |
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}} |
}} |
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The '''Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute''', commonly referred to as '''the Clark''', is an art museum and research institution located in [[Williamstown, Massachusetts|Williamstown]], [[Massachusetts]], [[United States]]. Its collection consists of European and American paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, and decorative arts from the fourteenth to the early twentieth century. The Clark, along with the [[Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art]] (MASS MoCA) and the [[Williams College Museum of Art]] (WCMA), forms a trio of art museums in [[the Berkshires]]. The institute also serves as a center for research and higher learning. It is home to various research and academic programs, which include the Fellowship Program and the [[Williams College]] Graduate Program in the History of Art, as well as one of the most distinguished research libraries in the country, with more than 295,000 volumes in over 72 languages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About The Library |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/library/about-the-library |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> The Clark is visited by 200,000 people a year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/7523-visitor-center-clark-art-institute?v=preview|title=Visitor Center, Clark Art Institute|language=en|access-date=2017-08-21}}</ref> |
The '''Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute''', commonly referred to as '''the Clark''', is an art museum and research institution located in [[Williamstown, Massachusetts|Williamstown]], [[Massachusetts]], [[United States]]. Its collection consists of European and American paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, and decorative arts from the fourteenth to the early twentieth century. The Clark, along with the [[Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art]] (MASS MoCA) and the [[Williams College Museum of Art]] (WCMA), forms a trio of art museums in [[the Berkshires]]. The institute also serves as a center for research and higher learning. It is home to various research and academic programs, which include the Fellowship Program and the [[Williams College]] Graduate Program in the History of Art, as well as one of the most distinguished research libraries in the country, with more than 295,000 volumes in over 72 languages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About The Library |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/library/about-the-library |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> The Clark is visited by 200,000 people a year, and offers many educational programs for visitors of all ages throughout the year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/7523-visitor-center-clark-art-institute?v=preview|title=Visitor Center, Clark Art Institute|language=en|access-date=2017-08-21}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The Clark was created in 1955 in association with Williams College by entrepreneur, soldier and prominent art collector [[Robert Sterling Clark]], and his wife, [[Francine Clark|Francine]]. After traveling in the [[Far East]], Sterling settled in [[Paris]] in 1911 and used a considerable fortune inherited from his grandfather (a principal in the [[Singer Sewing Machine Company]]) to begin amassing a private art collection. Francine joined him in collecting works of art after their marriage in 1919. |
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===Origins=== |
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"The Clark" was created in 1955 in association with Williams College by entrepreneur, soldier, explorer, and prominent art collector [[Robert Sterling Clark]], and his wife, [[Francine Clark|Francine]]. After numerous adventures in the [[Far East]], Sterling settled in [[Paris]] in 1911 and used a considerable fortune inherited from his grandfather (a principal in the [[Singer Sewing Machine Company]]) to begin amassing a private art collection. Francine joined him in collecting works of art after their marriage in 1919. |
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The Clarks kept their collection largely private, rarely lending out any works. With the onset of the [[Cold War]] and rapid nuclear armament, they became increasingly worried about the safety of their artworks. They wanted to protect their collection from a possible attack on [[New York City]], where they lived and where the expected heir of their collection, the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]], was located. As such, the Clarks began looking at sites in rural [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[Massachusetts]] with the intention of founding a museum for their art. |
The Clarks kept their collection largely private, rarely lending out any works. With the onset of the [[Cold War]] and rapid nuclear armament, they became increasingly worried about the safety of their artworks. They wanted to protect their collection from a possible attack on [[New York City]], where they lived and where the expected heir of their collection, the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]], was located. As such, the Clarks began looking at sites in rural [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[Massachusetts]] with the intention of founding a museum for their art. |
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They visited Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1949 and began having conversations with town leaders and the administrators of Williams College and the Williams College Museum of Art. Sterling had ties to the college through his grandfather and father, both of whom had been trustees. A charter for the Clark was signed on March 14, 1950 and the |
They visited Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1949 and began having conversations with town leaders and the administrators of Williams College and the Williams College Museum of Art. Sterling had ties to the college through his grandfather and father, both of whom had been trustees. A charter for the "Robert Sterling Clark Art Institute" was signed on March 14, 1950, incorporating the organization with the intention of becoming both a museum and educational institution. A special meeting was held by Sterling soon after the first cornerstone was laid in 1953 that changed the nameto"the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute", as it is today. Sterling wrote that Francine's inclusion was because of "her constant enthusiasm for the Institute's objectives, her participation in the accumulation of the collections which the Institute will house and her contributions to the planning of the project."<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Conforti |first=Michael |title=The Clark brothers collect: impressionists and early modern paintings from the collections of Sterling and Stephen Clark [exhibition, Sterling and Francine Clark art institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts, 4 June-4 September 2006 ; the Metropolitan museumofart, New York, 22 May-19 August 2007] |date=2006 |publisher=Yale university press |others=Clark art institute, Metropolitan museum of art |isbn=978-0-300-11619-9 |location=New Haven}}</ref> |
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The Clark opened to the public on May 17, 1955, under its first director, former silver dealer Peter Guille.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/clark-art-institute-to-celebrate-60th-anniversary-sunday,324560 |title=Clark Art Institute to celebrate 60th anniversary Sunday |newspaper=The Berkshire Eagle |date=2015-05-16}}</ref> The Clark has since become a destination for tourists, art lovers, and scholars, helping to establish the cultural reputation of the Berkshires. |
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===Architecture=== |
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[[File:The Clark Art Institute - Tadao Ando.jpg|thumb|Clark Center]] |
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The original marble gallery building, designed by Daniel Deverell Perry, opened in 1955. The [[Pietro Belluschi]]-designed Manton Research Center, housing the library and research programs, was completed in 1973. The Clark embarked on a long-term project in 2001 to improve its campus, enlisting the help of landscape firm Reed Hildebrand and architects [[Tadao Ando]] and [[Annabelle Selldorf]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://lalh.org/the-clark-art-institute-williamstown-ma/|title=The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts |date=2015-05-01 |newspaper=Library of American Landscape History}}</ref> |
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== Architecture == |
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Reed Hilderbrand redesigned the campus grounds, revamping nearby walking trails, planting 1,000 trees, and creating a reflecting pool fed by recycled water.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/11/arts/design/clark-art-institute-reopens-with-new-and-renovated-space.html |title=Clark Art Institute Reopens With New and Renovated Space |last=Smith |first=Roberta |date=2014-07-10 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> |
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[[File:1955 Building Springtime.tif|thumb|Marble facade of the 1955 Daniel Perry-designed building.|left|198x198px]] |
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=== Original Building === |
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Sterling Clark foresaw the museum as replete with natural light and a classical order. After being unhappy with designs produced by two architectural firms, Clark turned to Daniel Perry at the recommendation of Peter Guille, suggesting a design close in classical style to that of the [[Frick Collection]] but with less ornament. |
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Construction lasted almost two years and costed almost $3 million. The building opened on May 17, 1955, and included a private apartment in which the Clark family could stay when in Williamstown. This feature ended up being Sterling Clark's final home after the couple moved out of their Park Avenue residence, and his ashes are under the building's front steps.<ref name=":0" /> |
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=== Expansions === |
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The [[Pietro Belluschi]]-designed Manton Research Center, housing the library and research programs, was completed in 1973. The Clark embarked on a long-term project in 2001 to improve its campus, enlisting the help of landscape firm Reed Hilderbrand and architects [[Tadao Ando]] and [[Annabelle Selldorf]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://lalh.org/the-clark-art-institute-williamstown-ma/|title=The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts|date=2015-05-01|newspaper=Library of American Landscape History|access-date=January 25, 2017|archive-date=May 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524111159/http://lalh.org/the-clark-art-institute-williamstown-ma/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Hilderbrand redesigned the campus grounds, revamping nearby walking trails, planting 1,000 trees, and creating a reflecting pool fed by recycled water.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/11/arts/design/clark-art-institute-reopens-with-new-and-renovated-space.html |title=Clark Art Institute Reopens With New and Renovated Space |last=Smith |first=Roberta |date=2014-07-10 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> |
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[[File:Stone Hill Center.jpg|thumb|Stone Hill Center]] |
[[File:Stone Hill Center.jpg|thumb|Stone Hill Center]] |
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The Clark Center includes more than 11,000 square feet of gallery space for special exhibitions; new dining, retail, and family spaces; and an all-glass Museum Pavilion that creates a new entrance to the original Museum Building. Situated northwest of the Museum Building, the stone, concrete, and glass Clark Center is the centerpiece of the Clark's campus and serves as its primary visitor entrance. |
The Clark Center includes more than 11,000 square feet of gallery space for special exhibitions; new dining, retail, and family spaces; and an all-glass Museum Pavilion that creates a new entrance to the original Museum Building. Situated northwest of the Museum Building, the stone, concrete, and glass Clark Center is the centerpiece of the Clark's campus and serves as its primary visitor entrance. |
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Annabelle Selldorf was commissioned to renovate the |
Annabelle Selldorf was commissioned to renovate the campus' existing structures.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.selldorf.com/|title=Welcome - Selldorf Architects - New York |website=Selldorf Architects - New York|access-date=2017-01-24}}</ref> In the 1955 original marble building, galleries for American and decorative art were added and exhibition space was increased by 15%. In the Manton Research Center,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://theartnewspaper.com/news/museums/clark-art-institute-reopens-its-beating-heart-the-manton-research-center/ |title=Clark Art Institute reopens its 'beating heart', the Manton Research Center |last=Stapley-Brown |first=Victoria |date=November 11, 2016 |publisher=The Art Newspaper|access-date=January 26, 2017}}</ref> which reopened in 2016, the auditorium and central courtyard were renovated and several galleries and a study center were created. Its renovation marked the completion of the Clark's all-encompassing expansion project.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.archdaily.com/527769/clark-art-institute-tadao-ando-architect-and-associates-selldorf-architects-reed-hilderbrand-landscape-architecture-gensler |title=Clark Art Institute / Tadao Ando Architect & Associates + Selldorf Architects + Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture + Gensler |date=2014-07-22 |newspaper=Arch Daily}}</ref> |
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The museum's most recent $145 million expansion project has been funded through private donations, foundation support, the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, and bond financing organized in conjunction with the [[Massachusetts|Commonwealth of Massachusetts]].{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} |
The museum's most recent $145 million expansion project has been funded through private donations, foundation support, the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, and bond financing organized in conjunction with the [[Massachusetts|Commonwealth of Massachusetts]].{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} |
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==Collection== |
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==Research and Academic Program== |
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[[File:Renoir A Box at the Theater (At the Concert).jpg|left|thumb|[[Pierre-Auguste Renoir]], ''A Box at the Theater (At the Concert)'', 1880, oil on canvas. Clark Art Institute|256x256px]] |
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=== Origins === |
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Initially, the Clarks concentrated on Italian, Dutch, and Flemish Old Master paintings. Over time, their tastes shifted towards artists like [[John Singer Sargent]], [[Edgar Degas]], [[Winslow Homer]], and [[Pierre-Auguste Renoir]]. After 1920, the Clarks focused mainly on the art of 19th-century France — specifically works of [[Impressionism]] and the [[Barbizon School]]. Over the next 35 years, the Clarks would add to their private collection, increasing their holdings of paintings, porcelain, silver, prints, and drawings from the early fourteenth to the early twentieth century. |
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The museum's permanent collection has several elements. [[Pierre-Auguste Renoir|Renoir]], [[Auguste Rodin|Rodin]], [[George Inness]], [[John Singer Sargent]], and [[Jean-Léon Gérôme]] feature prominently. The Clark prominently features [[William-Adolphe Bouguereau|Bouguereau]]'s ''[[Nymphs and Satyr]]'', one of the greatest French academic works, and is best known today for its works of French Impressionism. |
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[[File:Brutus Condemning His Sons to Death by Guillaume Guillon Lethière.jpg|thumb|293x293px|Guillaume Lethière's ''[[Brutus Condemning His Sons to Death]]'' (1788) was acquired by the museum in 2018]] |
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=== New acquisitions === |
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[[File:Kaethe Kollwitz - Frau mit totem Kind.jpg|left|thumb|213x213px|[[Käthe Kollwitz]], ''Woman with Dead Child (Frau mit totem kind)'', 1903. Acquired in 2015 by the Clark, Kollwitz uses fine lines and deep shadows to depict the tragedy of a mother grieving her child]] |
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The Clark has continued to build and shape its collection to realize more fully and effectively its mission. Recent acquisitions include ''[[Brutus Condemning His Sons to Death]]'' by [[Guillaume Guillon-Lethière]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Artdaily |title=Clark Art Institute acquires Guillaume Guillon Lethière's masterpiece 'Brutus Condemning His Sons to Death' |url=https://artdaily.cc/news/104829/Clark-Art-Institute-acquires-Guillaume-Guillon-Lethi-egrave-re-s-masterpiece--Brutus-Condemning-His-Sons-to-Death-#.Y_jVaHbMKUk |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=artdaily.cc |language=English}}</ref> as well as the ''Landscape Album (Paysage)'' which contains approximately one hundred landscape drawings mostly by Lethière himself.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Landscape Album (Paysage) |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/artpiece/detail/Landscape-Album-(Paysage) |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> Also recently acquired is the ''Tea Service of Famous Women (Cabaret des femmes célèbres)'' painted by [[Marie-Victoire Jaquotot]], one of only three known sets which features portraits of women noted for their achievements within governance, literature, philosophy, and international relations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tea Service Portrays Sixteen Women Noted in European History |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/About/Press-Room/Press-Room-Archives/2022-Archives/Tea-Service-Portrays-Sixteen-Women-Noted-in-Europe |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Artdaily |title=Clark Art Institute acquires tea service that portrays 16 women noted in European history |url=https://artdaily.cc/news/145059/Clark-Art-Institute-acquires-tea-service-that-portrays-16-women-noted-in-European-history#.Y_jYe3bMKUk |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=artdaily.cc |language=English}}</ref> Additional new acquisitions include ''The Swearing in of President Boyer at the Palace of Haiti'' by Adolphe-Eugène-Gabriel Roehn, and a recent important gift from Frank and Katherine Martucci of early photographs of and by Black Americans, particularly by Edward J. Souby and [[James Van Der Zee]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Collections Activity |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/Museum/Collections/Collection-Activity |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> In 2013, Frank and Katherine Martucci gave the museum eight [[George Inness]] landscapes, supplementing his two works already in the collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Villarreal |first=Ignacio |title="George Inness: Gifts from Frank and Katherine Martucci" opens at the Clark Art Institute |url=http://artdaily.com/news/63140/-George-Inness--Gifts-from-Frank-and-Katherine-Martucci--opens-at-the-Clark-Art-Institute |access-date=2017-01-26 |website=artdaily.com |language=en}}</ref> |
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=== The Manton Collection of British Art === |
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[[File:J.M.W. Turner's Rockets and Blue Lights (Close at Hand) to Warn Steamboats of Shoal Water.jpg|thumb|[[J. M. W. Turner]]'', Rockets and Blue Lights (Close at Hand) to Warn Steamboats of Shoal Water,'' 1840, on view in the Manton Collection of British Art at the Clark]] |
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Since its establishment in 1955, the Clark Art Institute has continued to grow its collection through acquisitions, gifts, and bequests, with a recent focus on expanding its [[photography]] collection. In 2007, the Manton Foundation donated the collection of its founders, Sir Edwin and Lady Manton, to the museum. The Manton Collection of British Art<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Michael |title=The Manton Collection: the Clark becomes a major repository of British art overnight. - |url=http://www.berkshirefinearts.com/06-19-2007_the-manton-collection-the-clark-becomes-a-major-repository-of-british-art-overnight.htm |access-date=2017-01-26 |website=berkshirefinearts.com}}</ref> includes more than 200 works by British artists like [[J. M. W. Turner|J.M.W. Turner]], [[Thomas Gainsborough]], and [[John Constable]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Landscape, innovation, and nostalgia : the Manton collection of British art in SearchWorks |url=https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/9860496 |access-date=2017-01-26 |website=searchworks.stanford.edu |language=en}}</ref> |
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== Special exhibitions == |
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The Clark presents special exhibitions throughout the year on a wide range of topics. From June 2023 to October 2023, the Clark hosted ''Edvard Munch: Trembling Earth''. It was the first exhibit in the United States to focus on how [[Edvard Munch|Munch]] used nature to convey deeper meaning in his painting. ''Trembling Earth'' featured more than 75 works, many from the [[Munch Museum|Munchmuseet]]'s collection, and over 40 paintings and prints from rarely seen private collections.[2] The exhibition was co-organized by the Clark Art Institute, the [[Museum Barberini]], and the Munchmuseet. The New York Times placed ''Trembling Earth'' at the top of their "Best Art of 2023" list.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Roberta |last2=Cotter |first2=Holland |date=2023-12-07 |title=Best Art of 2023 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/07/arts/design/best-art-2023.html |access-date=2024-01-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> |
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More information about current exhibitions can be found directly on the [https://www.clarkart.edu/museum/exhibitions/browse-exhibitions#/ website]. |
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== Campus and grounds == |
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[[File:Clark Art Institute View From Stone Hill.jpg|center|thumb|800x800px|The Clark Art Institute viewed from Stone Hill]] |
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=== Natural landscape === |
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Beyond the buildings themselves, the Clark campus encompasses {{convert|140|acre}} of meadows, woods, and walking trails.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Landscape |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/about/architecture/landscape |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> In line with Sterling and Francine Clark's original vision, the Clark emphasizes the natural beauty of the Berkshires as a crucial aspect of the visitor experience. In the warmer months of the year, visitors are greeted by an expansive three-tiered reflecting pool designed by landscape architect Reed Hilderbrand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/about/architecture/overview |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> |
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==== Cows at the Clark ==== |
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Also visible in the warmer months are pastured cows which graze on and above Stone Hill. According to the Clark Art Institute website, the cows are friendly but prefer not to be approached.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visit the Exhibition |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/microsites/ground-work/visit-the-exhibition |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> |
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==== Project Snowshoe ==== |
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[[File:Nairy Baghramian, Knee and Elbow, 2020. Clark Art Institute.jpg|thumb|Nairy Baghramian, ''Knee and Elbow'', 2020. Clark Art Institute]] |
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In the winter months, visitors can borrow a pair of complimentary snowshoes to explore the Clark campus and trails in the snow.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Project Snowshoe |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/visit/project-showshoe |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> |
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=== Ground/work === |
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The Clark campus features several outdoor art instillations. Their first full outdoor exhibition, ''Ground/work'', was held from October 2020 to October 2021 and featured works from an international collection of artists, including [[Nairy Baghramian]], [[Jennie C. Jones]], [[Haegue Yang]], and others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exhibition |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/microsites/ground-work/exhibition |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> This exhibition, which is representative of the Clark's increased focus on working with living and contemporary artists, transformed the meadows and woodlands of the campus into an immersive outdoor gallery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ground/work |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/about/press-room/press-room-archives/2020-archives/ground-work |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> While ''Ground/work'' has concluded, visitors can still view various outdoor sculptures and installations around the campus at no cost. |
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== Academic programs == |
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=== Research and Academic Program === |
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[[File:Constable - The Wheat Field, 1816, 2007.8.27.jpg|thumb|265x265px|[[John Constable]], ''The Wheat Field'', 1816, oil on canvas. Clark Art Institute, gift of the Manton Art Foundation in memory of Sir Edwin and Lady Manton]] |
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The Research and Academic Program (RAP) is the manifestation of the Clark's original commitment to academic research and scholarly study. The program began in the late 1990s with the establishment of the Clark Library and the Graduate Program in the History of Art. Under the direction of [[John Onians]], [[Michael Ann Holly]], and Darby English, the program has since widened its purview to partner with both regional and international institutions and scholars to challenge and expand the scope of the study and production of the visual arts. Caroline Fowler is the Starr Director of the Research and Academic Program at the Clark and teaches in the Graduate Program in the History of Art at Williams College. |
The Research and Academic Program (RAP) is the manifestation of the Clark's original commitment to academic research and scholarly study. The program began in the late 1990s with the establishment of the Clark Library and the Graduate Program in the History of Art. Under the direction of [[John Onians]], [[Michael Ann Holly]], and Darby English, the program has since widened its purview to partner with both regional and international institutions and scholars to challenge and expand the scope of the study and production of the visual arts. Caroline Fowler is the Starr Director of the Research and Academic Program at the Clark and teaches in the Graduate Program in the History of Art at Williams College. |
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The Research and Academic Program also awards between ten and sixteen Clark Fellowships a year, ranging in duration from four weeks to ten months. Clark Fellowships allow promising scholars, critics, and museum officials opportunities for research outside of their professional obligations. Fellows, along with scholars and students from all stretches of the world, are encouraged to participate in the various conferences, colloquia, workshops, curator round tables, and seminars hosted by the program. |
The Research and Academic Program also awards between ten and sixteen Clark Fellowships a year, ranging in duration from four weeks to ten months. Clark Fellowships allow promising scholars, critics, and museum officials opportunities for research outside of their professional obligations. Fellows, along with scholars and students from all stretches of the world, are encouraged to participate in the various conferences, colloquia, workshops, curator round tables, and seminars hosted by the program. |
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Publications like The Clark Studies in the Visual Arts,<ref>{{Cite web|url= |
Publications like The Clark Studies in the Visual Arts,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clark Studies in the Visual Arts |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/research-academic/publications/clark-studies-in-the-visual-arts-(1) |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> based on the proceedings of the annual Clark Conferences, serve as another forum for the interdisciplinary exploration of art historical issues. Interested audiences can also tune into the Research and Academic Program podcast, ''In the Foreground: Conversations on Art & Writing,'' which offers a lively, in-depth look into the life and mind of a scholar or artist working with art historical or visual material.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Podcast |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/Research-Academic/Podcast/Podcast-homepage |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> |
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== Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art == |
=== Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art === |
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The Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art, established in 1972 in cooperation with the Clark, is an intensive two-year program that combines academic work, curatorial internships, workshops, an international study tour, and a range of instructors to culminate in a degree of the |
The Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art, established in 1972 in cooperation with the Clark, is an intensive two-year program that combines academic work, curatorial internships, workshops, an international study tour, and a range of instructors to culminate in a degree of the MasterofArts in the history of art. Located on the Clark Campus, the program draws on and works closely with the art history resources of both institutions. Of the nearly 1,500 graduates of the program, notable alumni include Sasha Suda, Director of the [[Philadelphia Museum of Art]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Administration |url=https://philamuseum.org/about/administration |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=philamuseum.org |language=en}}</ref> James Rondeau, Director of the [[Art Institute of Chicago]], and Paul Provost, Deputy Chairman of [[Christie's]]. |
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== Educational programs == |
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The Clark offers extensive public educational programs that range from guided gallery talks to lectures, film series, studio art courses, and interactive activities for children to engage visitors of all ages and backgrounds with the Clark's collections and exhibitions. The interactive nature of the programs reflects the general mission of the Clark to advance the public understanding of art's transformative power. |
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== Clark Prize for Excellence in Arts Writing == |
== Clark Prize for Excellence in Arts Writing == |
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[[File:George Inness, Green Landscape, 1886, Oil on canvas. Gift of Frank and Katherine Martucci, 2013. The Clark Art Institute, 2013.1.5.jpg|thumb|316x316px|[[George Inness]]' ''Green Landscape'' (1886; gift of Frank and Katherine Martucci) is part of the permanent collection at the Clark.]] |
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The Clark Prize for Excellence in Arts Writing has been awarded every other year since 2006. The prize "celebrates informed, insightful, and accessible prose that advances the public understanding and appreciation of the visual arts."{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} The award is presented for "critical or historical writing that conveys complex ideas in a manner that is grounded in scholarship yet appealing to a diverse range of audiences."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/about/clark-prize/overview |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> |
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The Clark Prize for Excellence in Arts Writing has been awarded every other year since 2006. The prize "celebrates informed, insightful, and accessible prose that advances the public understanding and appreciation of the visual arts."{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} The award is presented for "critical or historical writing that conveys complex ideas in a manner that is grounded in scholarship yet appealing to a diverse range of audiences."<ref name="Overview">{{Cite web |title=Overview |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/about/clark-prize/overview |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> |
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In 2006, three people were honored. One person was then selected each time it has been given until 2022, where there were two winners due to the pandemic shutdown. |
In 2006, three people were honored. One person was then selected each time it has been given until 2022, where there were two winners due to the pandemic shutdown.<ref name="Overview"/> Winners of the Prize are: |
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* 2006: [[Kobena Mercer]], [[Linda Nochlin]] and [[Calvin Tomkins]] |
* 2006: [[Kobena Mercer]], [[Linda Nochlin]] and [[Calvin Tomkins]] |
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* 2008: [[Peter Schjeldahl]] |
* 2008: [[Peter Schjeldahl]] |
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* 2017: Darcy Grimaldo Grigsby |
* 2017: Darcy Grimaldo Grigsby |
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* 2022: [[Hilton Als]] and [[Helen Molesworth]] |
* 2022: [[Hilton Als]] and [[Helen Molesworth]] |
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* 2024: [[Bénédicte Savoy]] |
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== Library == |
== Library == |
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[[File:John Singer Sargent A Street in Venice.jpg|thumb|[[John Singer Sargent]], ''A Street in Venice,'' c. 1880-1881|upright=1.1]] |
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Established in 1962, the Clark library is one of the major art reference and research libraries in the United States.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Murray |first1=Stuart |last2=Basbanes |first2=Nicholas |last3=Davis |first3=Donald |date=2009 |title=The library: An illustrated history |location=New York |publisher=[[Skyhorse Publishing]] |page=209 |isbn=978-1-62873-322-8}}</ref> The library has over 280,000 volumes and many special collections, including Robert Sterling Clark's rare books collection. Materials include standard art reference titles and databases, monographs and scholarly journals in 65 languages from more than 140 countries, exhibition catalogs and museum publications, auction catalogs (including many nineteenth- and early twentieth-century catalogs), and artists’ books.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarkart.edu/Library/Contact-Us-(1)|title=Library FAQs|website=The Clark Library|language=en-US|access-date=2021-04-11}}</ref> The library is open to the general public and admission is free. |
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Established in 1962, the Clark library is one of the major art reference and research libraries in the United States.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Murray |first1=Stuart |last2=Basbanes |first2=Nicholas |last3=Davis |first3=Donald |date=2009 |title=The library: An illustrated history |location=New York |publisher=[[Skyhorse Publishing]] |page=209 |isbn=978-1-62873-322-8}}</ref> The library has over 280,000 volumes and many special collections, including Robert Sterling Clark's rare books collection. Materials include standard art reference titles and databases, monographs and scholarly journals in 65 languages from more than 140 countries, exhibition catalogs and museum publications, auction catalogs (including many nineteenth- and early twentieth-century catalogs), and artists' books.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarkart.edu/Library/Contact-Us-(1)|title=Library FAQs|website=The Clark Library|language=en-US|access-date=2021-04-11}}</ref> The library is open to the general public and admission is free. |
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==Directors== |
==Directors== |
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* Peter Guille (1955–1966)<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/05/archives/peter-guille-silversmith-and-art-curator-59-dies.html | title=Peter Guille, Silversmith and Art Curator, 59, Dies | newspaper=The New York Times | date=October 5, 1970 }}</ref> |
* Peter Guille (1955–1966)<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/05/archives/peter-guille-silversmith-and-art-curator-59-dies.html | title=Peter Guille, Silversmith and Art Curator, 59, Dies | newspaper=The New York Times | date=October 5, 1970 }}</ref> |
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* [[George Heard Hamilton]] (1966–1977)<ref>{{cite news |title=George Heard Hamilton, 93, Museum Director and Author |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/01/arts/george-heard-hamilton-93-museum-director-and-author.html |last=Sisario |first=Ben |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=August 18, 2023 |date=April 1, 2004}}</ref> |
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* [[George Heard Hamilton]] (1966–1977) |
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* David Brooke (1977–1994)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/david-brooke-obituary?id=33016375 | title=DAVID BROOKE Obituary (2019) New York Times | website=[[Legacy.com]] }}</ref> |
* David Brooke (1977–1994)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/david-brooke-obituary?id=33016375 | title=DAVID BROOKE Obituary (2019) New York Times | website=[[Legacy.com]] }}</ref> |
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* Michael Conforti (1994–2016)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/clark-art-institute-director-michael-conforti-to-resign-after-two-decades-279520 | title=Clark Director Michael Conforti Resigns | date=March 19, 2015 }}</ref> |
* Michael Conforti (1994–2016)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/clark-art-institute-director-michael-conforti-to-resign-after-two-decades-279520 | title=Clark Director Michael Conforti Resigns | date=March 19, 2015 }}</ref> |
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* [[Olivier Meslay]] (2016–present)<ref>{{cite news |title=Clark Art Institute Announces New Leader, From Dallas Museum |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/14/arts/design/clark-art-institute-announces-new-leader-from-dallas-museum.html |last=Kennedy |first=Randy |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=August 18, 2023 |date=June 13, 2016 }}</ref> |
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* [[Olivier Meslay]] (2016–present) |
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{{clear}} |
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==Collection== |
==Works in The Permanent Collection== |
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<gallery widths="193" heights="240"> |
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Initially, the Clarks concentrated on Italian, Dutch, and Flemish [[Old Master]] paintings. Over time, their tastes shifted towards artists like [[John Singer Sargent]], [[Edgar Degas]], [[Winslow Homer]], and [[Pierre-Auguste Renoir]]. After 1920, the Clarks focused mainly on the art of 19th-century France — specifically works of [[Impressionism]] and the [[Barbizon school|Barbizon School]]. Over the next 35 years, the Clarks would add to their private collection, increasing their holdings of paintings, porcelain, silver, prints, and drawings from the early fourteenth to the early twentieth century. |
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File:Edgar Degas, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, 1878-1881, NGA 110292.jpg|Edgar Degas, ''Little Dancer Aged Fourteen'', modeled 1879–81, cast 1919–21 [https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/Little-Dancer-Aged-Fourteen] |
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File:Claude Monet, Rouen Cathedral, the Façade in Sunlight.jpg|Claude Monet, ''Rouen Cathedral, the Façade in Sunlight'', c. 1892–94, oil on canvas. Acquired in memory of Anne Strang Baxter [https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/Rouen-Cathedral,-the-Facade-in-Sunlight] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216185409/https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/Rouen-Cathedral,-the-Facade-in-Sunlight |date=February 16, 2021 }} |
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Since its establishment in 1955, the Clark Art Institute has continued to grow its collection through acquisitions, gifts, and bequests, with a recent focus on expanding its [[photography]] collection. In 2007, the Manton Foundation donated the collection of its founders, Sir Edwin and Lady Manton, to the museum. The Manton Collection of British Art<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.berkshirefinearts.com/06-19-2007_the-manton-collection-the-clark-becomes-a-major-repository-of-british-art-overnight.htm|title=The Manton Collection: the Clark becomes a major repository of British art overnight. -|last=Miller|first=Michael|website=berkshirefinearts.com|access-date=2017-01-26}}</ref> includes more than 200 works by British artists like [[J. M. W. Turner|J.M.W. Turner]], [[Thomas Gainsborough]], and [[John Constable]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/9860496|title=Landscape, innovation, and nostalgia : the Manton collection of British art in SearchWorks|website=searchworks.stanford.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-01-26}}</ref> In 2013, Frank and Katherine Martucci gave the museum eight [[George Inness]] landscapes, supplementing his two works already in the collection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://artdaily.com/news/63140/-George-Inness--Gifts-from-Frank-and-Katherine-Martucci--opens-at-the-Clark-Art-Institute|title="George Inness: Gifts from Frank and Katherine Martucci" opens at the Clark Art Institute|last=Villarreal|first=Ignacio|website=artdaily.com|language=en|access-date=2017-01-26}}</ref> |
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File:Bouguereau, Nymphes et Satyre, 1873 (5589772647).jpg|[[William-Adolphe Bouguereau]], ''Nymphs and Satyr'', 1873, oil on canvas. |
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File:Offering the Panal to the Bullfighter, Mary Cassatt.jpg|[[Mary Cassatt]], ''Offering the Panal to the Bullfighter'', 1873 [https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/Offering-the-Panal-to-the-Bullfighter] |
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The Clark has continued to build and shape its collection to realize more fully and effectively its mission. Recent acquisitions include ''Brutus Condemning His Sons to Death'' by Guillaume Lethière<ref>{{Cite web |last=Artdaily |title=Clark Art Institute acquires Guillaume Guillon Lethière's masterpiece 'Brutus Condemning His Sons to Death' |url=https://artdaily.cc/news/104829/Clark-Art-Institute-acquires-Guillaume-Guillon-Lethi-egrave-re-s-masterpiece--Brutus-Condemning-His-Sons-to-Death-#.Y_jVaHbMKUk |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=artdaily.cc |language=English}}</ref> as well as the Landscape Album (PAYSAGE) which contains approximately one hundred landscape drawings mostly by Lethière himself.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Landscape Album (Paysage) |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/artpiece/detail/Landscape-Album-(Paysage) |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> Additional new acquisitions include ''The Swearing in of President Boyer at the Palace of Haiti'' by Adolphe-Eugène-Gabriel Roehn, the ''Tea Service of Famous Women (Cabaret des femmes célèbres)'' painted by Marie-Victoire Jaquotot,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Artdaily |title=Clark Art Institute acquires tea service that portrays 16 women noted in European history |url=https://artdaily.cc/news/145059/Clark-Art-Institute-acquires-tea-service-that-portrays-16-women-noted-in-European-history#.Y_jYe3bMKUk |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=artdaily.cc |language=English}}</ref> and a recent important gift from Frank and Katherine Martucci of early photographs of and by Black Americans, particularly by Edward J. Souby and James Van Der Zee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Collections Activity |url=https://www.clarkart.edu/Museum/Collections/Collection-Activity |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.clarkart.edu}}</ref> |
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File:VanDerZee Wedding Day.tif|[[James Van Der Zee]], ''Wedding Day, Harlem'', 1926, printed 1974, gelatin silver print. Gift of Frank and Katherine Martucci [https://www.clarkart.edu/artpiece/detail/wedding-day,-harlem] |
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File:RodinManwithserpent.tif|Auguste Rodin, ''Man with Serpent'', 1885, plaster [https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/Man-with-Serpent] |
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Today, the museum is best known for its works of [[French Impressionism]], specifically the paintings of [[Pierre-Auguste Renoir|Renoir]], academic paintings by [[Jean-Léon Gérôme]] and [[William-Adolphe Bouguereau]], and its collection of European and American silver. |
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File:Portrait of a Man- Erich Heckel.jpg|Erich Heckel, ''Portrait of a Man'', 1918, color woodcut, over zincograph, in green, blue, ochre and black on paper [https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/Portrait-of-a-Man-(14)] |
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File:Renoir Blond Bather.jpg|Pierre-Auguste Renoir, ''Blonde Bather'', 1881, oil on canvas [https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/Blonde-Bather] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213062540/https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/Blonde-Bather |date=February 13, 2021 }} |
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== Special Exhibitions == |
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File:Albrecht Dürer, Adam and Eve, 1504, Engraving.jpg|After [[Albrecht Dürer]], ''Adam and Eve'', 1787–1887, engraving on paper [https://www.clarkart.edu/artpiece/detail/Adam-and-Eve-(6)] |
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The Clark presents special exhibitions throughout the year on a wide range of topics. More information about current exhibitions can be found directly on the [https://www.clarkart.edu/museum/exhibitions/browse-exhibitions#/ website]. |
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File:Piero, madonna col bambino e 4 angeli, clark art institute.jpg|[[Piero della Francesca]], ''Virgin and Child Enthroned with Four Angels'', c. 1460–70 [https://www.clarkart.edu/search?searchtext=della%20francesca] |
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==Collection highlights== |
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[[File:Piero, madonna col bambino e 4 angeli, clark art institute.jpg|thumb|[[Piero della Francesca]], ''Madonna and Child'', c. 1475-1482]] |
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[[File:Joseph Mallord William Turner 053.jpg|thumb|[[J. M. W. Turner]], ''Flares in High Seas,'' c. 1840]] |
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[[Image:Claude Monet The Cliffs at Etretat.jpg|thumb|[[Claude Monet]], ''The Cliffs at Etretat,'' c. 1885]] |
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[[File:John Singer Sargent A Street in Venice.jpg|thumb|[[John Singer Sargent]], ''A Street in Venice,'' c. 1880-1881]] |
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===Old Master paintings=== |
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<gallery widths="140" heights="140" perrow="4"> |
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File:Jean-Honoré Fragonard, The Warrior.jpg|[[Jean-Honoré Fragonard]], ''The Warrior,'' c. 1770 |
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File:Pietro Perugino cat39.jpg|[[Pietro Perugino]], ''Pieta with Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea,'' c. 1495 |
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File:Botticelli and workshop - Madonna and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist.jpg|[[Botticelli]] and workshop, ''Madonna and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist,'' c. 1490-1500 |
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File:Memling Gilles Joye.jpg|[[Hans Memling]], ''Portrait of Gilles Joye,'' 1472 |
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File:Domenico Ghirlandaio Portrait of a Lady.jpg|[[Domenico Ghirlandaio]], ''Portrait of a Lady'', c. 1490 |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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<gallery widths="240" heights="180"> |
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File:Winslow Homer West Point, Prouts Neck.jpg|Winslow Homer, ''West Point, Prout's Neck'', 1900, oil on canvas [https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/West-Point,-Prout-s-Neck] |
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===19th-century paintings=== |
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File:Women of Amphissa.jpg|Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, ''The Women of Amphissa'', 1887, oil on canvas [https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/The-Women-of-Amphissa] |
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====Impressionism and Post-Impressionism==== |
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File:Jean Léon Gérôme, Snake Charmer.jpg|[[Jean-Léon Gérôme]], ''Snake Charmer'', c. 1879, oil on canvas [https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/Snake-Charmer] |
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<gallery widths="140" heights="140" perrow="4"> |
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File:Claude Monet The Cliffs at Etretat.jpg|Claude Monet, ''The Cliffs at Étretat'', 1885 [https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/The-Cliffs-at-Etretat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208152054/https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/The-Cliffs-at-Etretat |date=February 8, 2022 }} |
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File:Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917), Dancers in the Classroom, c. 1880. Oil on canvas, oil 39.4 x 88.4 cm. Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute.jpg|[[Edgar Degas]], ''Dancers in the Classroom,'' c. 1880 |
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File:George Inness - Home at Montclair (1892).jpg|[[George Inness]], ''Home at Montclair'', 1892, oil on canvas [https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/Home-at-Montclair] |
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File:Claude Monet, Rouen Cathedral, the Façade in Sunlight.jpg|[[Claude Monet]], ''Rouen Cathedral, the Façade in Sunlight,'' c. 1892-1894 |
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File:Joseph Mallord William Turner 053.jpg|[[J. M. W. Turner|Joseph Mallord William Turner]], ''Rockets and Blue Lights (Close at Hand) to Warn Steamboats of Shoal Water'', 1840, oil on canvas [https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/Rockets-and-Blue-Lights-(Close-at-Hand)-to-Warn-St] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020084337/https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/Rockets-and-Blue-Lights-(Close-at-Hand)-to-Warn-St |date=October 20, 2020 }} |
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File:Alfred Sisley 061.jpg|[[Alfred Sisley]], ''Thames at Hampton Court,'' c. 1874 |
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File:RemingtonDismounted.jpg|[[Frederic Remington]], ''Dismounted: The Fourth Troopers Moving the Led Horses'', 1890, oil on canvas. |
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File:James Tissot - Chrysanthemums.jpg|[[James Tissot]], ''Chrysanthemums,'' c. 1874-1876 |
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File:Alfred Stieglitz - The Terminal - 2015.218 - Cleveland Museum of Art.jpg|[[Alfred Stieglitz]], ''The Terminal'', 1893; printed c. 1910, gift of Penelope Tyson Adams in memory of husband, John Barclay Adams [https://www.clarkart.edu/ArtPiece/Detail/The-Terminal] |
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File:Berthe Morisot The Bath.jpg|[[Berthe Morisot]], ''The Bath (Girl Arranging Her Hair),'' c. 1885-1886 |
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File:Carmen- Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.jpg|[[Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec]], ''Carmen,'' c. 1884 |
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File:Edouard Manet Moss Roses in a Vase.jpg|[[Édouard Manet]], ''Moss Roses in a Vase,'' c. 1882 |
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</gallery> |
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=====Pierre-Auguste Renoir===== |
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<gallery widths="140" heights="140" perrow="4"> |
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File:Pierre-August Renoir Camille Monet reading.jpg|[[Pierre-Auguste Renoir]], ''[[Camille Doncieux|Camille Monet]] Reading,'' c. 1873 |
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File:Thérèse Berard- Pierre-Auguste Renoir.jpg|Pierre-Auguste Renoir, ''Thérèse Berard,'' c. 1879 |
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File:Pierre-August Renoir Sleeping Girl with a Cat.jpg|Pierre-Auguste Renoir, ''Sleeping Girl with a Cat,'' c. 1880 |
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File:Pierre-August Renoir At the Concert a Box at the Opera s.jpg|Pierre-Auguste Renoir, ''At the Concert, a Box at the Opera,'' c. 1880 |
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File:Renoir Blond Bather.jpg|Pierre-Auguste Renoir, [[Blonde Bather (1881)|''Blonde Bather'', 1881]] |
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File:Pierre-Auguste Renoir - Autoportrait, 1899.jpg|Pierre-Auguste Renoir, ''Self-portrait'', c. 1899 |
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</gallery> |
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====Academic paintings==== |
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<gallery widths="140" heights="140" perrow="4"> |
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File:Pierre-Cécile Puvis de Chavannes 002.jpg|[[Pierre Puvis de Chavannes]], ''Death and the Maiden'', c. 1872 |
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File:Bouguereau Nymphs and Satyr MMA cr.jpg|[[William-Adolphe Bouguereau]], ''Nymphs and Satyr'', c. 1873 |
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File:Women of Amphissa.jpg|[[Lawrence Alma-Tadema]] and [[Laura Theresa Alma-Tadema]], ''Women of Amfissa'', c. 1887 |
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</gallery> |
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===American paintings=== |
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<gallery widths="140" heights="140" perrow="4"> |
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File:Gilbert Stuart Williamstown Portrait of George Washington.jpg|[[Gilbert Stuart]], ''Portrait of George Washington,'' c. 1797 |
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File:Portrait of Carolus-Duran.jpg|[[John Singer Sargent]], ''[[Carolus-Duran]],'' c. 1879 |
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File:Winslow Homer West Point, Prouts Neck.jpg|[[Winslow Homer]], ''West Point, Prout's Neck,'' c. 1900 |
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File:Frederic Remington The Scout Friends or Foes.jpg|[[Frederic Remington]], ''The Scout: Friends or Foes,'' c. 1900-1905 |
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File:John Singer Sargent, Neapolitan Children Bathing.jpg|[[John Singer Sargent]], ''Neapolitan Children Bathing,'' c. 1879 |
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File:George Inness, Wood Gatherers- An Autumn Afternoon-.jpg|[[George Inness]], ''Wood Gatherers: An Autumn Afternoon,'' c. 1891 |
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File:John Singer Sargent, Fumée d'ambre gris (Smoke of Ambergris).jpg|[[John Singer Sargent]], ''Fumée d'ambre gris (Smoke of Ambergris),'' c. 1880 |
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</gallery> |
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=== Manton Collection of British Art === |
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<gallery> |
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File:Joseph Mallord William Turner, Melrose Abbey.jpg|[[Joseph Mallord William Turner]], ''Melrose Abbey'', c. 1822 |
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File:Edward William Cooke, Venice at Sunset.jpg|[[Edward William Cooke]], ''Venice at Sunset'', c. 1864 |
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File:John Constable, The Wheat Field.jpg|[[John Constable]], ''The Wheat Field'', c. 1816 |
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</gallery> |
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=== Featured Prints and Drawings === |
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<gallery> |
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File:Albrecht Dürer, Adam and Eve.jpg|[[Albrecht Dürer]], ''Adam and Eve'', c. 1504 |
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File:Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas, Entrance of the Masked Dancers.jpg|[[Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas]], ''Entrance of the Masked Dancers'', c. 1879 |
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File:Man's Head in Woman's Hair - Edvard Munch.jpg|[[Edvard Munch]], ''Man's Head in Woman's Hair'', c. 1896 |
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File:Edvard Munch, Madonna.jpg|[[Edvard Munch]], ''Madonna'', c. 1895 |
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File:Winslow Homer - Lemon (1876).jpg|[[Winslow Homer]], ''Lemon'', c. 1876 |
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File:Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Balcony with a Gilded Grotesque Mask.jpg|[[Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec]], ''Balcony with a Gilded Grotesque Mask'', 1894 |
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File:Mary Cassatt, After the Bath.jpg|[[Mary Cassatt]], ''After the Bath'', c. 1895 |
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File:Jean-François Millet - Le Semeur.jpg|[[Jean-François Millet]], ''The Sower'', c. 1865 |
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File:Philibert Louis Debucourt, Modes et Manières No. 9- L'Escarpolette-Chapeau de paille brodé, sans Rubans.png|[[Philibert Louis Debucourt]], ''Modes et Manières No. 9: L'Escarpolette (Chapeau de paille brodé, sans Rubans)'', c. 1800 |
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File:Portrait of a Man- Erich Heckel.jpg|[[Erich Heckel]], ''Portrait of a Man'', c. 1918 |
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</gallery> |
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=== Photography === |
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<gallery> |
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File:Wells Cathedral, William Willis.jpg|[[William Willis (inventor)|William Willis]], ''Wells Cathedral'', c. 1873-74 |
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File:Gustave Le Gray, Standing Nude.jpg|[[Gustave Le Gray]],''Standing Nude'', c. 1855 |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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==References== |
== References == |
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{{Reflist|32em}} |
{{Reflist|32em}} |
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[[Category:FRAME Museums]] |
[[Category:FRAME Museums]] |
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[[Category:Research institutes in Massachusetts]] |
[[Category:Research institutes in Massachusetts]] |
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[[Category:Art museums established in 1955]] |
[[Category:Art museums and galleries established in 1955]] |
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[[Category:1955 establishments in Massachusetts]] |
[[Category:1955 establishments in Massachusetts]] |
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[[Category:Pietro Belluschi buildings]] |
[[Category:Pietro Belluschi buildings]] |
![]()
The Clark Art Institute
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Show map of Massachusetts
Clark Art Institute (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
Established | 1955 (1955) |
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Location | 225 South St, Williamstown, MA 01267 |
Type | Art Museum and Research Institute |
Accreditation | American Alliance of Museums |
Founder | Robert Sterling Clark and Francine Clark |
Director | Olivier Meslay |
Architect | Daniel Deverell Perry, Tadao Ando, Annabelle Selldorf |
Website | clarkart |
The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, commonly referred to as the Clark, is an art museum and research institution located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. Its collection consists of European and American paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, and decorative arts from the fourteenth to the early twentieth century. The Clark, along with the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) and the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), forms a trio of art museums in the Berkshires. The institute also serves as a center for research and higher learning. It is home to various research and academic programs, which include the Fellowship Program and the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art, as well as one of the most distinguished research libraries in the country, with more than 295,000 volumes in over 72 languages.[1] The Clark is visited by 200,000 people a year, and offers many educational programs for visitors of all ages throughout the year.[2]
The Clark was created in 1955 in association with Williams College by entrepreneur, soldier and prominent art collector Robert Sterling Clark, and his wife, Francine. After traveling in the Far East, Sterling settled in Paris in 1911 and used a considerable fortune inherited from his grandfather (a principal in the Singer Sewing Machine Company) to begin amassing a private art collection. Francine joined him in collecting works of art after their marriage in 1919.
The Clarks kept their collection largely private, rarely lending out any works. With the onset of the Cold War and rapid nuclear armament, they became increasingly worried about the safety of their artworks. They wanted to protect their collection from a possible attack on New York City, where they lived and where the expected heir of their collection, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was located. As such, the Clarks began looking at sites in rural New York and Massachusetts with the intention of founding a museum for their art.
They visited Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1949 and began having conversations with town leaders and the administrators of Williams College and the Williams College Museum of Art. Sterling had ties to the college through his grandfather and father, both of whom had been trustees. A charter for the "Robert Sterling Clark Art Institute" was signed on March 14, 1950, incorporating the organization with the intention of becoming both a museum and educational institution. A special meeting was held by Sterling soon after the first cornerstone was laid in 1953 that changed the name to "the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute", as it is today. Sterling wrote that Francine's inclusion was because of "her constant enthusiasm for the Institute's objectives, her participation in the accumulation of the collections which the Institute will house and her contributions to the planning of the project."[3]
The Clark opened to the public on May 17, 1955, under its first director, former silver dealer Peter Guille.[4] The Clark has since become a destination for tourists, art lovers, and scholars, helping to establish the cultural reputation of the Berkshires.
Sterling Clark foresaw the museum as replete with natural light and a classical order. After being unhappy with designs produced by two architectural firms, Clark turned to Daniel Perry at the recommendation of Peter Guille, suggesting a design close in classical style to that of the Frick Collection but with less ornament.
Construction lasted almost two years and costed almost $3 million. The building opened on May 17, 1955, and included a private apartment in which the Clark family could stay when in Williamstown. This feature ended up being Sterling Clark's final home after the couple moved out of their Park Avenue residence, and his ashes are under the building's front steps.[3]
The Pietro Belluschi-designed Manton Research Center, housing the library and research programs, was completed in 1973. The Clark embarked on a long-term project in 2001 to improve its campus, enlisting the help of landscape firm Reed Hilderbrand and architects Tadao Ando and Annabelle Selldorf.[5] Hilderbrand redesigned the campus grounds, revamping nearby walking trails, planting 1,000 trees, and creating a reflecting pool fed by recycled water.[6]
Tadao Ando designed two additions: the Lunder Center at Stone Hill and the 42,600-square-foot Clark Center, which opened in 2008 and 2014, respectively.[7][8] Envisioned as a sanctuary in the woods waiting to be discovered, the Lunder Center features two galleries and a seasonal terrace café. It is also home to the Williamstown Art Conservation Center, the largest regional conservation center in the country.
The Clark Center includes more than 11,000 square feet of gallery space for special exhibitions; new dining, retail, and family spaces; and an all-glass Museum Pavilion that creates a new entrance to the original Museum Building. Situated northwest of the Museum Building, the stone, concrete, and glass Clark Center is the centerpiece of the Clark's campus and serves as its primary visitor entrance.
Annabelle Selldorf was commissioned to renovate the campus' existing structures.[9] In the 1955 original marble building, galleries for American and decorative art were added and exhibition space was increased by 15%. In the Manton Research Center,[10] which reopened in 2016, the auditorium and central courtyard were renovated and several galleries and a study center were created. Its renovation marked the completion of the Clark's all-encompassing expansion project.[11]
The museum's most recent $145 million expansion project has been funded through private donations, foundation support, the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, and bond financing organized in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.[citation needed]
Initially, the Clarks concentrated on Italian, Dutch, and Flemish Old Master paintings. Over time, their tastes shifted towards artists like John Singer Sargent, Edgar Degas, Winslow Homer, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. After 1920, the Clarks focused mainly on the art of 19th-century France — specifically works of Impressionism and the Barbizon School. Over the next 35 years, the Clarks would add to their private collection, increasing their holdings of paintings, porcelain, silver, prints, and drawings from the early fourteenth to the early twentieth century.
The museum's permanent collection has several elements. Renoir, Rodin, George Inness, John Singer Sargent, and Jean-Léon Gérôme feature prominently. The Clark prominently features Bouguereau's Nymphs and Satyr, one of the greatest French academic works, and is best known today for its works of French Impressionism.
The Clark has continued to build and shape its collection to realize more fully and effectively its mission. Recent acquisitions include Brutus Condemning His Sons to DeathbyGuillaume Guillon-Lethière[12] as well as the Landscape Album (Paysage) which contains approximately one hundred landscape drawings mostly by Lethière himself.[13] Also recently acquired is the Tea Service of Famous Women (Cabaret des femmes célèbres) painted by Marie-Victoire Jaquotot, one of only three known sets which features portraits of women noted for their achievements within governance, literature, philosophy, and international relations.[14][15] Additional new acquisitions include The Swearing in of President Boyer at the Palace of Haiti by Adolphe-Eugène-Gabriel Roehn, and a recent important gift from Frank and Katherine Martucci of early photographs of and by Black Americans, particularly by Edward J. Souby and James Van Der Zee.[16] In 2013, Frank and Katherine Martucci gave the museum eight George Inness landscapes, supplementing his two works already in the collection.[17]
Since its establishment in 1955, the Clark Art Institute has continued to grow its collection through acquisitions, gifts, and bequests, with a recent focus on expanding its photography collection. In 2007, the Manton Foundation donated the collection of its founders, Sir Edwin and Lady Manton, to the museum. The Manton Collection of British Art[18] includes more than 200 works by British artists like J.M.W. Turner, Thomas Gainsborough, and John Constable.[19]
The Clark presents special exhibitions throughout the year on a wide range of topics. From June 2023 to October 2023, the Clark hosted Edvard Munch: Trembling Earth. It was the first exhibit in the United States to focus on how Munch used nature to convey deeper meaning in his painting. Trembling Earth featured more than 75 works, many from the Munchmuseet's collection, and over 40 paintings and prints from rarely seen private collections.[2] The exhibition was co-organized by the Clark Art Institute, the Museum Barberini, and the Munchmuseet. The New York Times placed Trembling Earth at the top of their "Best Art of 2023" list.[20]
More information about current exhibitions can be found directly on the website.
Beyond the buildings themselves, the Clark campus encompasses 140 acres (57 ha) of meadows, woods, and walking trails.[21] In line with Sterling and Francine Clark's original vision, the Clark emphasizes the natural beauty of the Berkshires as a crucial aspect of the visitor experience. In the warmer months of the year, visitors are greeted by an expansive three-tiered reflecting pool designed by landscape architect Reed Hilderbrand.[22]
Also visible in the warmer months are pastured cows which graze on and above Stone Hill. According to the Clark Art Institute website, the cows are friendly but prefer not to be approached.[23]
In the winter months, visitors can borrow a pair of complimentary snowshoes to explore the Clark campus and trails in the snow.[24]
The Clark campus features several outdoor art instillations. Their first full outdoor exhibition, Ground/work, was held from October 2020 to October 2021 and featured works from an international collection of artists, including Nairy Baghramian, Jennie C. Jones, Haegue Yang, and others.[25] This exhibition, which is representative of the Clark's increased focus on working with living and contemporary artists, transformed the meadows and woodlands of the campus into an immersive outdoor gallery.[26] While Ground/work has concluded, visitors can still view various outdoor sculptures and installations around the campus at no cost.
The Research and Academic Program (RAP) is the manifestation of the Clark's original commitment to academic research and scholarly study. The program began in the late 1990s with the establishment of the Clark Library and the Graduate Program in the History of Art. Under the direction of John Onians, Michael Ann Holly, and Darby English, the program has since widened its purview to partner with both regional and international institutions and scholars to challenge and expand the scope of the study and production of the visual arts. Caroline Fowler is the Starr Director of the Research and Academic Program at the Clark and teaches in the Graduate Program in the History of Art at Williams College.
The Research and Academic Program also awards between ten and sixteen Clark Fellowships a year, ranging in duration from four weeks to ten months. Clark Fellowships allow promising scholars, critics, and museum officials opportunities for research outside of their professional obligations. Fellows, along with scholars and students from all stretches of the world, are encouraged to participate in the various conferences, colloquia, workshops, curator round tables, and seminars hosted by the program.
Publications like The Clark Studies in the Visual Arts,[27] based on the proceedings of the annual Clark Conferences, serve as another forum for the interdisciplinary exploration of art historical issues. Interested audiences can also tune into the Research and Academic Program podcast, In the Foreground: Conversations on Art & Writing, which offers a lively, in-depth look into the life and mind of a scholar or artist working with art historical or visual material.[28]
The Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art, established in 1972 in cooperation with the Clark, is an intensive two-year program that combines academic work, curatorial internships, workshops, an international study tour, and a range of instructors to culminate in a degree of the Master of Arts in the history of art. Located on the Clark Campus, the program draws on and works closely with the art history resources of both institutions. Of the nearly 1,500 graduates of the program, notable alumni include Sasha Suda, Director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art,[29] James Rondeau, Director of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Paul Provost, Deputy Chairman of Christie's.
The Clark Prize for Excellence in Arts Writing has been awarded every other year since 2006. The prize "celebrates informed, insightful, and accessible prose that advances the public understanding and appreciation of the visual arts."[citation needed] The award is presented for "critical or historical writing that conveys complex ideas in a manner that is grounded in scholarship yet appealing to a diverse range of audiences."[30]
In 2006, three people were honored. One person was then selected each time it has been given until 2022, where there were two winners due to the pandemic shutdown.[30] Winners of the Prize are:
Established in 1962, the Clark library is one of the major art reference and research libraries in the United States.[31] The library has over 280,000 volumes and many special collections, including Robert Sterling Clark's rare books collection. Materials include standard art reference titles and databases, monographs and scholarly journals in 65 languages from more than 140 countries, exhibition catalogs and museum publications, auction catalogs (including many nineteenth- and early twentieth-century catalogs), and artists' books.[32] The library is open to the general public and admission is free.
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42°42′28″N 73°12′49″W / 42.70778°N 73.21361°W / 42.70778; -73.21361