This special exhibition explores the many ways in which girls were portrayed in American painting, sculpture, prints, and photography during the nineteenth century. Although the most typical portrayals are of girls as innocent, passive, and domestic, there are alternative images of tomboys, working children, and adolescents. Among the themes the works explore: Victorian attitudes toward the nature and nurture of children; the association of girls with fashion, health and home; and the impact of the Civil War on families. Masterworks by American painters John Singer Sargent, Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer, Cecilia Beaux, and William Merritt Chase are among the 74 works featured in Angels & Tomboys.
There were 2 sculptures I particularly liked. The first was Enthroned, a 1906 cast of a 1902 bronze by Bessie Potter Vonnoh:
The other was Roller Skating, a 1906 bronze by Mary Abastenia St. Leger Eberle:
Roller Skating especially captivated me. The movement and joy! The one skate is a fun touch, because we know the other skate is on a friend. It made me smile to look at it.
Most of the pieces in this exhibit were paintings.
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Sculpture and those who create it amaze me. I can understand and actually make a presentable picture drawing or painting but to go from a slab of marble,bronze or clay to a work of art Wow. Part of what makes Rushmore amazing is the displays and video clips showing how Borglum went from granite mountain to majestic sculpture.
ReplyDeleteyes, it's amazing, isn't it! they can make a sculpture that not only looks like a person but looks like a _particular_ person. i've played with sculpting clay and can make a reasonably recognizable ball, vase or bowl.
ReplyDeletei remember going to stone mountain, ga, and seeing the carving on the side of the mountain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Mountain . the story of how it was accomplished is impressive. i've never seen rushmore
Hi! Thanks for the post! We recently posted some Angels & Tomboys material on our blog, with more on the way!
ReplyDeleteHere is the link:
http://rebrooksblog.com/
-Beth @ the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
beth, i subscribed to the brooks blog. i've always found the process of unpacking and re-packing the exhibitions interesting. i sometimes wonder how museums get some pieces through the door.
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