In Pursuit of Beauty Americans ami the Aesthetic Movement

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October 23, 1986—January 11, 1UN7

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This exhibition is made possible by Meredith Corporation. Additional support has been received from the National Endowment tor the Humanities. A Love of the Past, The Aesthetic Craze Artistic Houses The Lure of the Exotic Vast sums were spent by Americans cultivating their Two manifestations of the Aesthetic movement in taste, surrounding themselves with fine art, and hiring Modern Gothic furniture was the first expression of America were increased public awareness of art and prestigious decorating firms to impose aesthetic stan­ the Aesthetic movement in America. It was architec­ the proliferation of art education. The styles and ideas dards on their homes. tonic in form and construction, and its surface decora­ of the movement were popularized and commercial­ tion featured carved and incised designs derived from ized by a wave of books and magazines on household During the Aesthetic period, the lavish interiors cre­ medieval sources. decoration. Eastlake's Hints on Household Taste ated by the major decorators—Herter Brothers and appeared in eight American editions; other books, like The quest for pure beauty led inevitably to ancient- Associated Artists among them—were collaborations those by Clarence Cook, Harriet Prescott Spofford, Greece. Archaeological finds were exhibited in by artists, architects, craftsmen, and patrons. and M. Louise McLaughlin, were written for the American museums, and Greek shapes and decoration American middle class. Some notable interiors of the period include the reappeared in terracotta urns and in classical friezes Seventh Regiment Armory, the Henry G. Marquand Japanese Still Life on silver forms. Exhibitions, most notably the 1876 Centennial in house, the mansions of William H. Vanderbilt and his Philadelphia, and industrial fairs gave the American Elihu Vedder, 1879. Oil on canvas Nostalgia for the early American past created a son Cornelius II, and the Henry Osborne Havemeyer Los Angeles County Museum of Art (M.74.11) public a place to see both fine and applied arts. Schools house, all in . demand for native antiques and reproductions and of design were formed nationwide. Museums also encouraged experiments in furniture inspired by assumed the role of educator by establishing art Associated Artists, founded in New York in 1879, best Colonial and Federal examples. schools. Clubs for the amateur artist—like New exemplifies the concept of a decorating team approach­ In Pursuit of Beauty It was Japanese art that provided the major influence York's Society of Decorative Art founded in 1877— ing an entire interior space: ran Ceres (detail) the glass department, Candace Wheeler was in charge on American designers, who adopted its flat, com­ became commonplace across the country. Augustus Saint-Gaudens, after a design by of textiles, supervised carving partmentalized surface patterns and asymmetrical for the dining room of the Cornelius Vanderbilt II Aestheticism was echoed in the most mass-produced and wood decoration, and Samuel Colman directed This exhibition is the first comprehensive study of the compositions. Japanese shapes, surface treatments, residence, New York, 1881-82 and utilitarian home furnishings, such as silverplated the use of color. Aesthetic movement, which flourished in America and materials were interpreted in the decorative arts of Mahogany, inlaid with precious stones and bronze wares, pressed glass, and ceramic tiles—all bearing from the mid-i870s to the mid-i88os. It was a move­ the period, particularly in porcelain and in silver Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site aesthetic patterns. Even ephemera like book illustra­ ment concerned with introducing principles of art into objects like the Tiffany and Company chocolate pot National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior tions and trade cards were affected by aesthetic taste. American manufactures—furniture, metalwork, shown below. Cabinet Cornish, N.H., Gift of the Trustees ceramics, stained glass, textiles, wallpapers, and Herter Brothers, New York, ca. 1880 of the Saint-Gaudens Memorial, 1979 books—indeed, into every aspect of domestic life. The new ornamental vocabulary was also enriched by Ebonized cherry, marquetry, gilt Photograph:Jeffrey Nintzel the decorative arts of China, Persia, India, and other High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Virginia Carroll Crawford Collection (1981.1000.51) The Aesthetic movement evolved from British reform exotic cultures. iQgMMkiFv^ •-•.•-.., . ^xJ? ideas beginning in the 1840s. Owen Jones's influential A Plea for Decorative Art book The Grammar of Ornament (1856) codified earlier theories and proposed a formal approach to design. Principles of Decorative Design Most important to the movement in America were the The involvement of professional and amateur painters contributions of four other men: Christopher Dresser, and sculptors in the decorative arts was a major aspect !ln] Charles Locke Eastlake, E. W. Godwin, and BruceJ. During the Aesthetic period, surface ornament in ot the Aesthetic movement in America. Some artists— Talbert. Their work called for honest construction mainly women—applied their talents to china paint­ and conventionalized, two-dimensional ornamenta­ every medium was derived from geometry and I nature, although forms were flattened and abstracted, ing, needlework, and wood carving. The role of tion. The writings ofjohn Ruskin and the designs of IM >. 4laB \WW\\\AW.^A\ not represented naturalistically. The Herter Brothers women in the movement soon grew until they had William Morris also shaped the aesthetic style in assumed a central place in the execution, promotion, America. cabinet illustrated here is a veritable dictionary of aesthetic-style pattern and ornament. For example, and appreciation of art. The artistic commitment of Cincinnati women is a prime example. They were The Aesthetic era was a time in which Americans the carved panels framing the central door resemble instrumental not only in founding a school of design formed great collections of ancient, medieval, and the stylized borders of berries and leaves seen in and an art museum in their city, but they also carved '•Ww ;,, < oriental art. Wealthy collectors commissioned grand period wallpapers and stained glass. Other favored ^K2S55feS furniture and decorated ceramics, eventually winning interiors for the display of their treasures. American motifs of the Aesthetic movement also seen here Aesthetic Stoves are all the sty/a a national reputation for their art pottery. Mr. William H. Vanderhilt's Library artists and artisans, like Louis Comfort Tiffany and include paired cranes and the sunflower, which Some very tame, some vety'Wilde." GARLANDS always are the best Designed by Herter Brothers, New York John La Farge, also collected exotic objects, which became a kind of emblem of the aesthete. The peacock rar'exce/lmf a// the rest Professional artists no longer confined their work to Plate from Artistic Houses (New York, 1883-84) inspired their own designs. feather, calla lily, and Japanese fan were also popular traditional media. Painters and sculptors could embel­ ThomasJ. Watson Library, subject matter. lish the walls of an interior, as John La Farge and The Metropolitan Museum of Art Aesthetic Garland Stoves (trade card) Augustus Saint-Gaudens did for the New York resi­ Photograph: David Allison Chocolate pot Interiors as well as furniture demonstrated the layer­ Designed by M. B. Mills COVER: Stained-glass window. One of six panels designed by Tiffany and Company, New York, 1879 ing and juxtaposition of different patterns and the use Printed by Calvert Lithograph Co., Detroit, 1882 dence of Cornelius Vanderbilt II; ornament tiles, as John La Farge for the William Watts Sherman house, Copper, silver, applied metal decoration, of a subtle palette of closely related colors that are Chromolithograph Winslow Homer did for a fireplace surround; or Newport, Rhode Island, ca. 1877. Leaded stained glass. ivory handle associated with the Aesthetic movement. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, design stained-glass windows like those created by La Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Gift ofJame s F. Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Lewis Anonymous Gift, 1985 (1985-111°) Farge and Louis Comfort Tiffany. and Jean Baer O'Gorman (1974.498) Photograph: David Allison Photograph: David Allison Public Programs Films Symposium

Unless noted, all programs are free with Museum admission. Films on subjects related to the exhibition will be shown in A symposium featuring five speakers on In Pursuit of Beauty: the Uris Center Auditorium on some weekday afternoons at Americans and the Aesthetic Movement will be held on Monday, Lectures 2:00 P.M. No tickets necessary. Dates and film titles will be December 8, 1986, in the Uris Center Auditorium. Mark listed in the Calendar/News and in the film flyers available at Girouard will be the keynote speaker. Admission to the TUESDAYS the Information Desks in the Great Hall and the Uris Center. symposium is by ticket only. There is no charge for tickets. All lectures begin at 6:00 P.M. in the Uris Center Auditorium. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with name and No tickets necessary. Special Events address to: Aesthetic Movement Symposium November 18 SUNDAYS Department of Public Education "Aesthetic Delight, Theoretical Dilemma: Wallpapers, These lectures and films will be in the Grace Rainey Rogers The Metropolitan Museum of Art Carpets, and Textiles" Auditorium. No tickets necessary. Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street Catherine Lynn, lecturer and author, New Haven, New York, New York 10028 Connecticut November 9 November 25 Lectures Interiors and the Aesthetic Movement "The American Aesthetic Movement in a Cultural Context" Community Education Roger B. Stein, Professor of Art History, University of 1:00 P.M. "The Interior and the Aesthetic Movement in Virginia, Charlottesville American Painting" Celia Betsky McGee, writer and editor. The Department of Community Education will offer slide December 2 New York lectures free of charge at libraries, community centers, and "American Architecture and the Aesthetic Movement" museums in New York. These talks will introduce the exhi­ James D. Kornwolf, Professor of Fine Arts, College of 2:00 P.M. "Inside the 'House Beautiful': H. H. Richard­ bition and discuss many of the objects in it. For further William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia son's Glessner House in Chicago" information on locations and dates, call or write the Depart­ Elaine Harrington, Glessner House Curator, ment of Community Education, (212) 570-3930. FRIDAYS Chicago Architecture Foundation All lectures begin at 2:00 P.M. in the Uris Center Auditorium. 3:00 P.M. "Mark Twain and the Rev. Francis Goodwin: No tickets necessary. Aesthetic Pioneers in Hartford" Programs for Young People Wilson H. Faude, Executive Director, Old State December 5 House Association, Hartford, and Chairman, Gallery Adventures, for ages 9-12, will have a three-part "Art in Metalwork" Connecticut Historical Commission series on decorative arts with gallery discussions, sketching, David A. Hanks, President, David A. Hanks & Associates, Films and writing projects. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays, Inc., New York Noon Pioneers of Modern Architecture in Chicago October 14, 21, and 28, from 4:00 P.M.-5:30 P.M. in the December 12 (20 minutes) Museum's permanent collections and will include one visit to "Art Furniture: Wedding the Beautiful to the Useful" Augustus Saint-Gaudens: An American Original the special exhibition In Pursuit of Beauty: Americans and the Marilynn Johnson, Coordinator of Graduate Program (28 minutes) Aesthetic Movement. There is a fee of $10.00 for the series. For registration information, call the Membership Office, (212) in Museum Studies, Fashion Institute of Technology, 4:00 P.M. The Pre-Raphaelite Revolt (30 minutes) New York 570-3753- December 19 December 7 "Aesthetic Forms in Ceramics and Glass" Lectures The Aesthetic Movement in Great Britain Alice Cooney Frelinghuysen, Assistant Curator, The and America Uris Library and Resource Center American Wing, The Metropolitan Museum of Art 1:00 P.M. "American Architecture from the Victorian Gothic to the 'Queen Anne'" Books and audiovisual materials for adults and children are Sarah Bradford Landau, Associate Professor of available in conjunction with the exhibition. All readers Fine Arts, New York University are welcome. Hours: Tuesday 10:00 A.M.-7:00 P.M.; Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 A.M.-4:30 P.M. 2:00 P.M. "The Interior and the Aesthetic Movement in England" Mark Girouard, writer and architectural histo­ rian, London Recorded Tours 3:00 P.M. "British Influences on the Aesthetic Movement Recorded tours of the exhibition are available for rental. Fees in America" are $2.50 for Museum members, $3.00 for nonmembers. For Catherine Hoover Voorsanger, information about group rates, call (212) 879-5500, ext. Research Associate, The American Wing, 2936. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Films Noon All That Money Could Buy (50 minutes) Book 4:00 P.M. Art Nouveau (12 minutes) A 512-page book. In Pursuit of Beauty: Americans and the LEFT: Portiere (detail). Designed by Candace Wheeler. Aesthetic Movement, will be published in October. The 412 Manufactured by Cheney Brothers, Hartford, late 19th century. illustrations—95 in full color—include every object in the Silk and wool. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, exhibition. Special Museum prices: cloth, $45.00; paper, Gift of the family of Mrs. Candace Wheeler, 1928 (28.34.2). $35.00 Photograph: David Allison M E R K I) I l H c ORPOHATION is pleased to sponsor In Pursuit of Beauty: Americans and the Aesthetic Movement at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

As a Des Moines—based diversified media com- we welcome this opportunity to celebrate New York and its cultural endeavors.

The Aesthetic movement cultivated a populai appreciation of art, bringing taste and beauty to nearly all facets of everyday life. Our sponsor­ ship of the first American exhibition devoted to the Aesthetic movement is a particular pleasure, as it relates so closely to our long commitment to home and family.

ROB 1 R T A . Ii ii R N \. I I President ami Chief Executive Officer Meredith Corporation Des Moines, Iowa

ABOVE: Vote. Designed by John Bennett, New York, 1882. Earthenware. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Friends ot The American Wing Fund, 1984 (1984.425) The Metropolitan Museum of Art Department of Education Services Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street New York, New York 10028