The Clark Museum
The Clark Art Institute - Williamstown, MA |
I first became acquainted with the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (now just The Clark) in 1993 while a student at the Lyme Academy of Fine Art in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
It was in March of that year that I drove to Williamstown to see this amazing museum. Nestled in the Berkshire Hills of far northwestern Massachusetts on 140 acres of woodlands, meadows, and hiking trails, the museum features some of the greatest names in 19th and early 20th century European and American art...Monet, Renoir, Turner, Homer, Sargent, Inness, Degas, Cassatt, Corot, Pissarro, Millet, Remington, Bouguereau, Gerome, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema...and on-and-on.
John Singer Sargent - "Fumee d'Ambre Gris (Smoke of Ambergris)" - 55"x 36" - Oil - 1880 This is one of the first paintings purchased by the Clark's |
William Adolphe Bouguereau - "Nymphes et Satyre" - 102"x 71" - Oil - 1873 |
Jean-Leon Gerome - "The Serpent Charmer" - 33"x 48" - Oil - 1880 |
The Clark's were private people, so when the museum opened in 1955, the art world was shocked to discover the quality and breadth of their collection. Sterling did not like or seek publicity and wrote to a friend shortly before the Institute's opening: "Do not mention the opening of the Institute to anyone as you will treat me to a cloud of newspapermen to the detriment of my health."
Charles Francois Daubigny - "The Bridge Between Persan and Beaumont-sur-Oise" - 15"x 26" - Oil - 1867 |
Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema - "The Women of Amphissa" - 48"x 72" - Oil - 1887 This is one stunning, amazing, unbelievable painting |
George Inness - "The Wood Gatherers: An Autumn Afternoon" - 30"x 45" - Oil - 1891 |
The Clark's had developed excellent taste. I'm sure Francine's French background greatly influenced their choice to collect so many works of the French Impressionists. Sterling was his own advisor and followed the advice he gave to others. "Look, look, and look again, and don't be influenced by anyone in...likes and dislikes", he said.
Since the museum's opening, the collection has grown to more than 8000 objects. It has become only one of a few institutions in the country that is both a public art museum and a research and academic center supporting a library of over 200,000 volumes.
The 140 acres surrounding The Clark offer spectacular views. Here you can see the extensive expansion of the museum currently underway. |
Clark considered John Singer Sargent and Winslow Homer as America's best artists...and they are both well represented in the museum. The most prized artist, however, seems to be the French Impressionist, Pierre Auguste Renoir, with more than 30 representative works.
The Clark has so many phenomenal works, stunning works of genius. It all makes one stand back in awe and amazement that God endowed humans with the ability to conceive and execute such beautiful and meaningful works.
If you have not experienced this great museum in northwest Massachusetts, you surely know by now that I strongly recommend it.
Acknowledgments:
Brian T. Allen - "Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute" - American Art Review Vol. XVI No. 3 2004
Margaret C. Conrads - "American Paintings and Sculpture" - Hudson Hills Press
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You may e-mail me at: john@pototschnik.com
You may e-mail me at: john@pototschnik.com
Labels: Educational
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