George Kubler Records of the Arensberg Collection Catalog KUB Finding aid prepared by Bertha Adams.
Last updated on January 31, 2017.
03/20/2009
Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives George Kubler Records of the Arensberg Collection Catalog
Table of Contents
Summary Information...... 3 Biography/History...... 4 Scope and Contents...... 4 Arrangement...... 5 Administrative Information...... 5 Related Materials...... 6 Controlled Access Headings...... 6
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Summary Information
Repository Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives
Creator Kubler, George, 1912-1996
Title George Kubler Records of the Arensberg Collection Catalog
Call number KUB
Date [inclusive] 1954
Extent 1 linear foot
Language English
Abstract In preparing a catalog of the pre-Columbian sculpture in the Louise and Walter Arensberg art collection, the Philadelphia Museum of Art called upon the expertise of Yale art historian George Kubler to classify and annotate each object. This collection consists of the annotated photographs of each of the 197 objects illustrated in the catalog, which was published in 1954. Based on certain markings, these were the photographs used by the printer. A second "Miscellaneous" series of photographs, some with annotations, primarily document other objects in the Arensberg collection that did not appear in the catalog. Some are unidentified.
Cite as:
[Item identification and date], [Series info.], George Kubler Records to the Arensberg Collection Catalog, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Archives.
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Biography/History
In his teachings and writings on pre-Columbian and Ibero-American art, George Kubler has been credited with incorporating non-European arts and anthropology into the study of art history. Born in 1912, Kubler moved with his mother to Europe after his father's death. Kubler's father, Frederick William Kubler, was an industrialist and had studied art history in Munich. Kubler returned to the United States in 1933 and attended Yale, where he received a BA, MA and, after some initial doctoral work at New York University, his Ph.D. in 1940. During his doctoral studies at Yale, Kubler studied with Henri Focillon, and in 1943 published the English translation of Focillon's "Life of Forms in Art." One of Kubler's most important writings was "Art and architecture of Ancient America," (1962) his second work for the Pelican History of Art series. In addition to art historical studies, Kubler also wrote "Indian Caste of Peru: 1795-1940." Published in 1952, this population study was part of a government project of the Interdepartmental Committee on Scientific and Cultural Cooperation. Kubler taught at University of Chicago, Harvard University and Yale, where he chaired the department of art from 1953-1956 and served as Sterling Professor of the History of Art from 1975 until his retirement in 1983. He was also the 1985-1986 Kress Professor at the Center for Advanced Studies at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Kubler married Elizabeth Bushnell in 1937. He died in 1996. Befriending some of the most important artists of the 20th century, art collectors Walter and Louise Arensberg played an integral role in the development and promotion of avant-garde artistic ideas and activities in the United States. Through the 1930's and 1940's, the Arensbergs acquired primarily modern art and non-Western artifacts as well as some Oriental rugs, Byzantine and Renaissance paintings, and American folk art. They also collected pre-Columbian stone and ceramic sculptures. After nearly a decade of discussions and many visits from Director Fiske Kimball and his wife Marie, the Arensbergs presented their collection of over 1,000 objects to the Philadelphia Museum of Art on December 27, 1950. The Museum also holds certain of their papers and book collection as well as several related collections pertaining to Marcel Duchamp, John Raphael Covert and the Francis Bacon Foundation.
Works Consulted 1. Dictionary of art historians, s.v. Kubler, George [Alexander].
Scope and Contents
In preparing a catalog of the pre-Columbian sculpture in the Louise and Walter Arensberg collection, the Philadelphia Museum of Art called upon the expertise of Yale art historian George Kubler to classify and annotate each object. This collection consists of the annotated photographs of each of the 197 objects illustrated in the catalog, which was published in 1954. Each object was identified by origin and arranged
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Arrangement
Catalog pagination.
Administrative Information
Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives Finding aid prepared by Bertha Adams.
Sponsor Funded by a grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services
Access Restrictions The collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions The George Kubler Records of the Arensberg Collection Catalog are the physical property of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Archives. The Museum holds literary rights only for material created by Museum personnel or given to the Museum with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining permission from rights holders for publication and for other purposes where stated.
- Page 5 - George Kubler Records of the Arensberg Collection Catalog Acquisition and Custody Information This body of material originally was included in the Arensberg Archives, which was formally given to the Museum in 2001. During the processing of those records in 2002, the Kubler catalog material was separated.
Processing Information These materials were arranged and described by Bertha Adams. Funded by a grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Related Materials
Related Material Philadelphia Museum of Art, Library. Walter and Louise Arensberg Book Collection. Arensberg Archives. Philadelphia Museum of Art, Archives.
Controlled Access Headings
Personal Name(s)
• Kubler, George, 1912-1996 • Arensberg, Louise Stevens • Arensberg, Walter, 1878-1954
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