La Salle University - Explorer Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 16 text:

Art For Our Sake Open your galleries of art to the people and you confer on them a greater benefit than mere book education; you give them a re- finement to which they would otherwise be strangers. Charles Fairbanks uried deep in the confines ix dfM t y of Olney Hall, rests a trea- ( fllLi K sure priceless in its beauty yW rH and culture. Although ac- cess to these riches rela- tively simple — a short de- scent on a small flight of stairs — once you have entered the serene world of the La Salle College Art Gallery, you may never wish to return to reality. Collecting works of art for the gallery was initiated in 1964 by Brother Daniel Burke, President Emeritus of La Salle Col- lege. According to Caroline Wistar, curator of the gallery, Brother Daniel ' s knowledge and perception of quality works of art has been the catalyst that turned limited re- sources and a very small initial investment into the finest college gallery in the area. The gallery exhibits the major styles and themes of Western art since the Middle Ages. Subject matter ranges from religious, as evidenced in the Nativity (a Flemish work circa 1500), to the ultra-secular Christian Schuessele work. The Lager Beer Saloon. This variety of western themes is a primary reason for the over- whelming beauty and appeal of the collec- tion. Each of the six large galleries of the col- lection is devoted to a specific century. En- trance to the 16th century is dominated by two massive Gothic doors from an authen- tic 16th century castle. The doors and other assorted items of woodwork were acquired in 1923 by the Widener family for Ronaele, their 49 room Tudor mansion. Ronaele (El- eanor spelled backwards) was designed by architect Horace Trombauer for Eleanor Widener, mother of former Philadelphia 76ers basketball team owner, Fitz Eugene Dixon, Jr. The mansion was purchased by the Christian Brothers in 1951 and was de- molished in 1973. It was Brother Daniel ' s acute appreciation of quality, that saved the centuries old woodwork of the home from the wrecker ' s ball. Other acquisitions that demonstrate Burke ' s keen sense for both quality and a bargain are his 1975 acquisition of the huge (93 X 73 ) portrait of Louisa, Countess of Sandwich, by Sir Thomas Lawrence and a 15th century woodcarving by Austrian carver Eramus Grasser depicting six fig- ures from a crucifixion scene for less than $15,000. The Lawrence work dominates the 19th century Victorian room. Brother Daniel feels that the size of the painting was the reason that he was able to acquire it for such a paltry sum. Large things are often not bought by apartment dwellers, so I thought we might have a chance at it. The Grasser woodcarving, in addition to its contribution to the aesthetic value of the gallery, has proven to be of educational val- ue as well. When purchased, the work was covered with centuries of dirt and nails and glue from successive restorations. Conser- vator Virginia Maude was engaged to carry out professional res toration, a process that took more than a year of work to complete. When the restoration was completed we had a special exhibition on conservation and the students learned a great deal from the photographs that documented every step of the conservation process, explains Burke. Quick to credit others involved in the operation of the gallery, Brother Daniel Burke stresses that without the assistance of Professor Thomas Riddington, and Cura- tor Caroline Wistar, the gallery would not have flourished. Before joining the La

Page 15 text:

Q Z o OS a z z o

Page 17 text:

The Lager Beer Saloon by Christian Schuessele Salle Gallery (she prefers to think of it as a museum), Ms. Wistar was an assistant cu- rator of prints, drawings and photographs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She be- gan at La Salle part-time in 1976 and in- creased her services to full-time status in 1978. Her organizational skills and mature appreciation of fine art have proven to be invaluable. The Gallery stages two or three special exhibits per semester. There is no admis- sion charge and hours are 1 1 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday thru Friday, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. With the relentless pressures that reality imposes on student life, a means of escape into a world of beauty and tranquil- ity, such as that found behind the doors of the La Salle Art Gallery, is undoubtedly a priceless treasure. WILLIAM J. BRENMAM ' Art is the treasure of the ages. Anonymous The Nativity by Jan Provost