Posts for May, 2007

Ignored by the quickly changing tastes of the art critics, Godward became the climatic figure of English classical-subject painting as this genre itself shriveled under the blaze of the 20th century avant-garde. He was the best of the last great European painters to straight-forwardly embrace classical Greece and Rome in their art. Herein lies his significance to art history. With him and his colleagues, we see the nightfall of five hundred years of Classical subject painting in Western art. Desperately idealistic, Godward was one of those artists, who at first glance, we think we fathom completely. Since he is often dismissed with the inadequate catch phrases: an Alma-Tadema clone, a "too late" Classicist, a "pedant of the brush", a "pot-boiler" or merely the painter of an insipid world of languorous women on marble benches, no serious study of his art has been undertaken. And because we are a society that honors "firsts" rather than "lasts" few art historians have examined the demise of Classical subject-painting, of which Godward is a chief exemplar. All of these judgements, in the light of historical distance, can be seen as unjust prejudices... Click here to see the rest of the article.

John William Godward A Grecian Lovely, 1909 Oil On Canvas (50.8 x 40.6 cm)

Peter Trippi, Editor of Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, will lecture at the ARC Approved™ Atelier: The Harlem Studio of Art 508 East 117th Street New York City June 11, 2007 6-8:30pm. There will be time for an exchange of ideas following this lecture on symbolism, allegory and myth in art specifically for professional painters. In order to attend please call: Andrea Smith or Judy Kudlow at The Harlem Studio 917-492-1923.

We have extended the deadline for entry in the annual ARC Scholarship contest to June 18, 2007.

This year we will be increasing the number of scholarships available, in part because of a generous grant from the Morris and Alma Schapiro Fund. From the contest participants we will select 6 artists to receive $2,500 scholarships and 5 will be selected to receive $1,000 each for a total of $20,000 in support for promising young artists.

For details on how to enter please read the ARC Scholarship Prospectus and the ARC Scholarship FAQ page.

The Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala Florida has an exhibition of 65 paintings by William Bouguereau and his students (going on since February 10). The title of the exhibition is In the Studios of Paris: William Bouguereau & His American Students and was organized by The Philbrook Museum of Art of Tulsa Oklahoma. It is curated by James F. Peck of the Philbrook Museum, Ruth G. Hardman Curator of European and American Art. A fully illustrated color catalogue (211 pages with 86 illustrations, ISBN 9780300114133), including critical essays by Bouguereau expert and scholar Damien Bartoli; and Elizabeth Gardner Bouguereau specialist Charles Pearo (Elizabeth Jane Gardner: 'The Best Imitator of Bouguereau') among others, will accompany the exhibition. The catalogue entries, along with an essay detailing the artistic relationship between Eanger Irving Couse and Bouguereau, authored by exhibition curator James Peck. Appleton Museum of Art 4333 N.E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, FL 34470 Call 352-291-4455 for more details. Prices: Adult: $6.00, Senior (55+): $4.00, Educator: $4.00, University Student over 18: $4.00, Youth 10-18: $3.00, Youth 9 and under: FREE, Member: FREE, CFCC Student: FREE The exhibition will be moving along after May 27 to The Frick Art and Historical Society, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (July 7 – October 7, 2007). Visit the Appleton Museum Site Read an Ocala Style Magazine article on the exhibit

William Bouguereau Pastourelle [Shepherdess],1889 Oil on Canvas (62.5 x 36.5 inches)