February 8, 1945
Additions to the Brooklyn Museum collections during the past three years have included objects of outstanding importance. The more unusual items, showing the richness and scope of the collections, will be placed on special exhibition beginning February 8 and will be on view through April 15.
Of particular interest are two portraits by Joseph Blackburn recently purchased by the Museum. These portraits of James Otis, Jr. and Mrs. James Otis, Jr. were painted in 1755 and are considered among the best portraits by this outstanding 18th century American artist. Exhibited with these will be several other examples of American portraiture of the same period: Unknown Woman (Mrs. John Vinal?) by Robert Feke, John Smibert's William Tailor presented to the Museum by Mr. and Mrs. Luke Vincent Lockwood, and Deborah Hall by William Williams, a Philadelphia artist who is only now being rediscovered.
Four superb gifts lately presented to the Museum by Mr. and Mrs. Frederic B. Pratt will be shown for the first time: a tapestry of the Mille Fleurs type dating from 15th century France, a Burgundian tapestry, also 15th century, of Esther Before Ahasuerus, a French statue in wood of the 14th century, representing Mary and John, and a Spanish Madonna and Child in marble. A third tapestry to be shown comes from a Brussels 17th century workshop and is the gift of Leo Wallerstein. It shows Meleager Presenting the Head of the Calydonian Boar to Atalanta.
Among the recent acquisitions are a number of portfolios of prints, including Illustrations of Dante, copper engravings by William Blake; Kreig (War), a portfolio of seven woodcuts completed by Kathe Kollwitz in 1923; the Myth of Oedipus, illustrated with six etchings by Kurt Seligman; and a small portfolio of wooden engravings by the Mexican artist, Mendez. Other prints by Max Weber, Georges Rouault, Andre Racz, John Copl[e]y and Louis Schanker and drawings by George Kolbe, Charles Despiau, Suzanne Valadon and Diego Rivera will be shown.
The only known manuscript on silk weaving in Mexico during the 18th century has been selected for the exhibition. This original document contains a report, at the order of Jose de Galvez to the Viceroy El Conde Revillo-Gigedo, relating to the weavers of silk in Mexico from 1783-1793. It is a valuable record because actual samples of textiles woven by native craftsmen at the time are attached to dated documents.
A pair of handsome 17th century Persian lacquered doors, signed by Aga Mani, from the Pavilion Hasht Bihisht, Isfahan, will be exhibited for the first time. The lacquered decoration shows miniature paintings of personages and scenes of country life.
Two finely sculptured heads are of great interest: One a 12th century bronze head of a Buddha from Cambodia, given to the Museum by Frederic B. Pratt, and the other a Chinese stone head of Kwan Yin, Wei Dynasty (A.D. 386-535).
The quality and variety of the collections are shown further by other important pieces, among them the earliest form of a Queen Anne style ball foot mahogany secretary made in New England about 1700-1710, an 18th century looking glass, and American cane back arm chair, dating from about 1700, and presented to the Museum by Mr. and Mrs. Luke Vincent Lockwood, a pair of mahogany side chairs made in New England about 1765-1775, a sophisticated New York Chippendale gaming table and an elaborate Philadelphia Chippendale side chair.
A cover of embroidered net with allegorical figures and a heraldic eagle is the gift of Mrs. Edward S. Harkness. Of late 17th or very early 18th century Italian manufacture, this cover is represented in the plates of Antique Laces in American Collections.
An 18th century French silk pelerine will be exhibited, as well as a promenade costume of the 1860's of striking pink silk and grey quilted satin, and for the “slim silhouette” of the early 1880’s a brown taffeta with the inevitable bustle. This group of garments in no way represents the additions to the costume department. In the past three years a consistent effort has been made to secure contemporary examples, in order to complete the continuity of the collection, which includes costumes and accessories from mid-18th century to the present day.
The Brooklyn Museum is well known for its Egyptian collection and recent additions to this department have included objects of
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Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1942 - 1946. 01-06_1945, 114-115 View Original
