A collection of 62 paintings by well-known American artists, most of which have rarely, if ever, been seen in public, opened on Friday, April 19, at Hamilton College's Emerson Gallery. "Hamilton Collects American Art" provides a fresh look at the history of American painting from 1738 through 1960 and includes works by many recognized painters including Charles Burchfield, Alexander Calder, Charles Demuth, Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Maurice Prendergast and Norman Rockwell. 
"Hamilton Collects American Art" is comprised of works lent by Hamilton alumni and friends to celebrate the gallery's 20th anniversary. The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will remain open through June 9.
As part of the anniversary celebration, former Metropolitan Museum of Art Director Thomas Hoving delivered a keynote address at Hamilton College on Saturday, April 27. Hoving's remarks on the intriguing challenges and rewards involved in soliciting major museum gifts from private donors were titled "Patrons Only." He opened with the exclamation, "I love art patrons and lovers." His love may have been engendered by the fact that, by his estimation, 82 percent of the Metropolitan Museum's works were given by patrons. Hoving estimated that this percentage is probably similar to most other museums in the United States and is quite unlike institutions anywhere else in the world. "You'll never find this kind of tradition in the cultural institutions of Europe. And the British Museum is the greatest but it is a museum of colonial spoils."
"Collectors teach curators," exclaimed Hoving. "Superior patrons are obsessed, cockeyed, addicted, generous, have a distaste for strings and are utterly subservient to the professional staff." He recounted numerous stories chronicling his triumphs in convincing patrons to release their work to the Met. Following his presentation in the filled-to-capacity chapel, he fielded numerous questions from the audience.
His greatest complaint about museums today? He said that museums are failing to teach the public, failing to explain why they have collected the things they have. "Museums have become too big and have too much 'junk.'" He suggested that museums should be doing more sharing with each other and less storing of treasures in closets due to lack of exhibition space.
As director of the Metropolitan Museum for a decade, Hoving is credited with filling the museum with many new treasures by acquiring more than 25,000 works. He is also recognized as the inventor of the "blockbuster" museum exhibition, most notably the Tutankhamun show. He has written numerous books and articles and also served as editor-in-chief of Connoisseur magazine and arts editor for ABC News.
John Root '44 poses next to his portrait at age six months painted by George Luks(Click image for larger version.)
